Joel Goldenberg

Sun Youth co-founder Sid Stevens passes away at 85

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

One of Montreal’s most beloved people, Sun Youth Organzation co-founder Sid Stevens, passed away Sunday at the age of 85, the organization announced.

Mayor Valérie Plante posted Monday afternoon, “It is with great sadness that I learn of the passing of one of the founders of Sun Youth. A member of the Order of Montreal, he built an organization dedicated to serving the people of Montreal. My thoughts are with his friends and family.”

D’Arcy McGee MNA Elisabeth Prass described Stevens as a “lifelong champion of inner-city youth and low-income families. Sid transformed a grassroots sports and recreation initiative into an organization that now supports tens of thousands of Montrealers—through food banks, camps, emergency aid, and more. His legacy of compassion, leadership, and community impact lives on across the city.”

Federation CJA said Stevens “embodied the values of compassion, dignity, and inclusivity. His work through Sun Youth provided critical support to vulnerable populations across the city, including members of the Jewish community. His legacy is one of unwavering commitment to helping others, regardless of background or circumstance.

“Federation CJA is proud to have supported Sun Youth’s kosher food program for more than a decade, which helped provide food baskets to Jewish community members in need.”

The organization, in its obituary, pointed out that Stevens “devoted his life to helping Montrealers,” and that at the time of his passing, he was “surrounded by loved ones, leaving behind a rich legacy of generosity, solidarity and community engagement. With great sadness, but also pride, Sun Youth honours the rich life of one of its co-founders, Mr. Sid Stevens. Countless Montrealers past and present are grateful to him for his dedication.

Stevens was born in 1940 in the fabled Jewish area of what is now known as Plateau Mont-Royal. The obituary points out that at the age of 13, “Sid and his friend Earl De La Perralle started Sun Youth by organizing sports and leisure activities for local children. Now, the organization supports around 30,000 Montreal residents annually with food, clothing, financial aid, emergency services, and youth programs.

“Sun Youth originated from the Clark Street Sun, a neighbourhood newspaper sold for two cents. The funds were used to buy sports equipment and organize activities. Today, the organization’s budget has grown from $500 in the mid-1950s to over $8 million.”

Stevens also stepped into the world of Montreal municipal politics, being elected a city councillor in 1978 and hailed for his “down-to-earth approach to community issues. He won the trust and appreciation of his fellow councillors and the public for his dedication to crime prevention and other community initiatives.” As well, he was “instrumental in introducing Crime Stoppers to the city, and was appointed coordinator of the ‘Operation Tandem’, a crime prevention initiative.”

Upon his return to Sun Youth, he established Quebec’s first food bank in 1981 and brought about other innovations to help the local community, including a home delivery service for people with reduced mobility.

Stevens was honoured numerous times throughout his life, by the Knights of Pythias in 1968, the Rotary Club, the Chairperson of Dawson College’s Governing Council, the Citation of Citizenship from Ministry of State for Multiculturalism and Citizenship, and accolades from the Association des Médecins Psychiatres du Québec, the Montreal Citizenship Council naming Stevens an Outstanding Citizen, to honour unselfish service to the community, and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from McGill University.

Other honours included the Sheila and Victor Goldbloom award, the Commander of the Ordre de Montréal and, in 2022, the Ordre national du Québec, the highest distinction bestowed by the Government of Quebec. n

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Man arrested after threatening Orthodox Jews in St. Laurent

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

A man was arrested in St. Laurent Friday after death threats he made to an observant Jewish man and others at the corner of St. Louis and Fraser streets.”Your time will come!” says a man wearing a keffiyeh in a video circulating on social media. “You’re a f–king pig! You understand me? I’m just waiting for the king! F–king monkeys! There is one king — Allah!” The individual then walks away. One of the other individuals in the video says “St. Louis and Fraser,” which is in the southwestern part of the borough.

Another video posted by Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi, shot from another angle, features the man saying “we will f–king kill you!”

Sid Ali Tamrabet, 28, had been charged Saturday with one count of harassing a woman and her family and two counts of making death threats to several men between Aug. 10 and 15. After appearing in court Monday, Tamrabet was released with conditions, including not communicating with, “harassing, disturbing, following, or spying on” his victims, and not having a weapon. He is to appear in court again Oct. 29. Court documents say he was to have met with a criminologist this past weekend to determine his mental state.

SPVM spokesperson Caroline Chèvrefils told The Suburban Friday night, “at around 4:40 p.m., several 911 calls were made regarding a man who allegedly made threatening remarks to a group of citizens near the intersection of Fraser and St. Louis streets in the borough of Saint-Laurent.

“When the police arrived at the scene, they quickly located the suspect, a 28-year-old man. Based on information obtained from witnesses, the police arrested the suspect for making threats and hateful remarks toward a group of citizens.”

The SPVM spokesperson added that “following the arrest, the suspect was transported to the investigation centre where he was met by investigators. The suspect [remained] in custody until his appearance in Quebec Court.”

Chevrèfils explained that the “hate crimes and incidents unit will be informed of the case, but since the police were able to quickly locate the suspect following the 911 call and immediately proceeded to arrest him, the case was immediately taken over by investigators from the Western Region, as we had a detainee to meet and a case to submit to the DPCP following the arrest.”

On Sunday, Rabbi Saul Emanuel of the Jewish Community Council of Montreal revealed that one of those threatened is an employee of the JCC, “a man simply doing his job, serving our community, and ensuring that Jewish life in Montreal continues to flourish. To threaten him is to threaten the very institutions that anchor Jewish life in this city.”

The incident comes a week after an observant Jewish man was beaten in Park Extension as his daughters watched. Sergio Yanes Preciado was arrested and he is receiving a psychological evaluation at Pinel.

The Centre For Israel and Jewish Affairs and Federation CJA released a statement Friday saying that “thanks to focused and specific pictures of the individual, the Community Security Network (CSN) has been able to work with the SPVM to identify him. Today, an arrest was made. We will continue to engage appropriately as this case advances. We are pleased to see that an arrest came fast, thanks to our collaboration with our security partners. Those who seek to threaten members of our community must be held accountable. If you see something, say something. Report any suspicious activity to Federation CJA at 514-343-4343 or via http://federationcja.org.” n

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Three people stabbed in St. Laurent , one dead

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

One man is dead and two were injured after the three were stabbed with a sharp object at Roman Zytynsky park in the St. Laurent borough around 9:15 p.m. Saturday.

The victim of the 26th murder of the year on the island of Montreal was 22 years old. As of Sunday morning, the second victim, 19, was in critical condition and the third, also 19, was in stable condition, said SPVM spokesperson Caroline Chèvrefils. The incident took place at the corner of Jules-Poitras and Deguire, in the eastern section of the borough. No arrests have yet been made as of Tuesday morning. SPVM spokesperson Jean-Pierre Brabant told The Suburban witnesses are still being interviewed.

An investigation is under way by the SPVM’s Major Crimes Unit and a security perimeter was established at the scene.

The incident came a day after a 28-year-old man with a keffiyeh was arrested in St. Laurent for threatening members of the Jewish community. The 25th murder of the year took place the previous Saturday at a bar at Côte des Neiges near Barclay when one of two victims of a stabbing succumbed to his injuries.

St. Laurent, in recent years, has been the locale of several crimes, including murders, shootings, arsons and attempted arsons and stabbings, as well as extortion. n

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MoWest had $2.1 million surplus at end of 2024

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Montreal West council, at its recent meeting, moved to publish the annual report by Mayor Beny Masella and Councillor Colleen Feeney on the financial situation of the town, for the year ending Dec. 31, 2024.

Masella said he was very pleased with the results of the report.

A summary of the report was already provided at the previous council meeting by Feeney, who has the finance, recreation and culture and Municipalité amie des ainés (MADA) age-friendly portfolios on council. The figures were provided by an external auditor.

The report indicated that the town had an operating surplus of $2,141,020 at the end of 2024 — more specifically, “revenues were $1.49 million over budget and accounted for the bulk of the surplus… mainly due to duties on transfer from the sales of homes $411,000 over budget due to increased sales; interest income $343,000 over budget due to higher interest rates and interest on arrears and recreation revenues $246,000 over budget with day camp, pool, youth and adult program and event revenues higher than anticipated.”

Other sources of the surplus included “an additional $124,000 from government grants for recycling, an ice storm grant and a special one-time transfer for small municipalities; permits revenues $209K over budget due mainly to parking permits (new commercial parking lease) and more building permits; fines and penalties being $61,000 over budget and other services $58,000 higher than anticipated.”

The report also says that total operating expenses were $655,000 under budget and the town had an added $44,000 in expenses for Recreation “as a result of the increased registration and events, and $86,000 in amortization expense related to new accounting regulations.

“This was offset with substantial savings in other areas, notably $411,000 less than budgeted for interest on long-term debt and bank charges due mainly to lower refinancing interest rates, and the decision to delay going for financing of our long-term loan for the new Recreation Centre, thus saving $333,000.”

There were also “$303,000 less in salary costs, $131,000 in Public Works due mainly to lower costs for snow removal and external contracts.

As well, “$265,000 was spent in Capital Expenses as part of our Pay-as-you-go financing which allows us to fund certain projects through our operations budget rather than incurring additional debt.” These expenditures included “$116,000 for Town Hall foundation repairs, new electrical entry and emergency stairs; $49,000 for water flow regulators, $45,000 for capital assets for the new Recreation Centre, $40,000 for new fire hydrants and $15,000 for three photocopy machines.”

Capital investment projects pursued during the year totalled $24.3 million, “which included construction, architectural and consultant fees for the new Recreation Centre ($22.7 million) and the resurfacing of Avon ($179,000).

“With the exception of the Recreation Centre, which has added to our long-term debt, all other capital investments were funded by our accumulated surplus or working and operating funds. At year end, the Town’s net debt stood at $17.3 million, up from $11.5 million in 2023. In the past 10 years net debt has only increased from $16.9 million to $17.3 million despite capital investments of over $45.9 million in the same period. Our unappropriated operating surplus is $2.6 million, while our appropriated surplus is $784,000, and our Working Fund stands at $1.4 million.”

MoWest had $2.1 million surplus at end of 2024 Read More »

SPVM charges anti-Israel agitator at Pride parade

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By Joel Goldenberg and Dan Laxer
The Suburban

SPVM officers moved quickly to intervene after anti-Israel protesters at Sunday’s Pride Parade attempted to block the Jewish Pride group Ga’ava from proceeding along René Lévesque East.

The agitators began raising their signs and chanting at the corner of Sanguinet. Numerous officers raced to the protesters and kept them moving, lightly pushing one resister with a baton. We later overheard that a balloon with urine had been thrown by an agitator. SPVM spokesperson Jeanne Drouin told The Suburban that a 35-year-old woman was arrested at 3 p.m., but she could not confirm if the object containing the liquid was a balloon or something else, or if the liquid was urine as of Monday. Drouin said there may not be a need to analyze the liquid, as a charge would be armed assault in any case.

Ga’ava participants as well as CIJA Quebec vice-president Eta Yudin stayed well back of the agitators and away from a lone protester at the end of the parade route yelling in a deranged fashion, “free Palestine!” Notably along the route, most observers cheered Ga’ava as they passed by.

We heard that Ga’ava members were informed by police on Sunday morning that they would be there for the group in great numbers, and their quick efforts during the attempted disruption were greatly appreciated.

Carlos Godoy, president of Ga’ava, told The Suburban “LGBTQ+ Jews belong in all LGBTQIA2+ spaces, we belong in Quebec, in Montreal, in Canada, and LGBTQ Jews today walked in the Pride parade like we’ve done for the past 20 years.

“Attempting to blockade the parade by force and violence is not inclusion and not diversity either,” he added.

Yudin pointed out that 2025 was not the first year anti-Israel protesters tried to disrupt the parade.

“Pride organizers were ready, the police were ready and we saw how swiftly those who tried to disrupt the parade were escorted out,” she added. “That’s the kind of action we expect in Quebec as we all come together to protect our values and fight against hate.”

Otherwise, the parade seemed to go off without a hitch with several groups and floats making their way eastward from Metcalfe with no disruptions.

The controversy that had organizers Fierté Montréal in the spotlight over the past few weeks took a backseat to celebration. The organization made the announcement, last week – along with an apology – that Ga’ava, the Jewish gay group, and CIJA, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Afffairs, would be welcome in the parade after all.

Fierté Montréal had originally banned Ga’ava, the largest gay Jewish group in the country, after one complaint about allegedly politically-charged language. It had also banned the Iranian Montreal Rainbow Association. But there was a small group of revellers marching in the parade carrying a banner that read “Freedom For Iran.”

The group and its supporters were further back in the parade, proudly waving rainbow Israeli flags, with all manner of rainbow-coloured Stars of David on banners and t-shirts. Also marching with them was Snowdon councillor Sonny Moroz.

In terms of political parties, new Quebec Liberal leader Pablo Rodriguez marched with party members. There was also a group marching behind a rainbow-coloured federal Liberal banner and another with a Parti Québécois banner. Projet Montréal party leader Luc Rabouin was spotted marching in the parade along with CDN-NDG borough mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa and party supporters.

Following the parade, The Suburban saw that even a Beatle was not spared from anti-Israel rhetoric. A poster not far from the parade route promoting Paul McCartney’s upcoming Bell Centre concert was vandalized with a Hitler moustache on McCartney and the blood libel message “stop genocide now”. n

SPVM charges anti-Israel agitator at Pride parade Read More »

Two cars set on fire in CSL

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Two cars were set on fire at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday in Côte St. Luc, one of many incidents of this sort in the Montreal area in the last few years.

Some of those incidents have been in commercial or industrial parking lots, and others on residential streets and driveways. in this case, an SUV was on the street on Mapleridge Avenue and a car was in an apartment building parking lot near Caldwell.

SPVM spokesperson Caroline Chevrefils told The Suburban Sunday night that the incidents are considered to be arson, and that the investigation is in its early days. She also said the Montreal fire department quickly put out the blazes after several 911 calls were made. At least one car was heavily damaged. Both vehicles were towed away. There were no injuries.

Another notable car fire took place in CSL in late 2023, when three vehicles were damaged in a part of the parking lot of Le Montefiore at the corner of Cavendish Blvd. and Mackle Road, right near Quartier Cavendish. 

Two cars set on fire in CSL Read More »

CSL council denounces Carney for ’empowering antisemitism’

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Côte St. Luc council unanimously passed a very strongly worded resolution Monday night denouncing Prime Minister Mark Carney for his intention to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly’s 80th session next month.

The resolution, introduced by Councillor Lior Azerad, points out that the announcement took place in the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people, during Israel’s ongoing war with the terrorist group and after two years of antisemitic incidents and hate crimes against the Canadian Jewish community, including in Côte St. Luc.

The resolution says Carney’s announcement is “rewarding violence and legitimizing extremism in the Middle East and right here in Montreal as well as in Canada.

“Prime Minister Carney’s announcement does not just embolden terrorism abroad — it empowers antisemitism here in Canada,” and is a “dangerous move that endangers the safety and security of the Canadian Jewish community.”

CSL council declared that it “opposes the government of Canada’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state in September 2025, as it deviates from the established principle of achieving statehood through direct, bilateral negotiations between Israel and a demilitarized Palestinian authority which recognizes Israel’s right to exist” is calling for “continued international support for diplomatic efforts that prioritize the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas, the disarmament of terrorist groups, and the establishment of governance structures that promote peace and reject violence;” and “reaffirms its commitment to fostering dialogue, understanding, and peaceful coexistence that promote mutual respect and cooperation among all Canadians, Québécois and residents of the island of Montreal, regardless of background.”

Mayor Mitchell Brownstein told the meeting that as municipal leaders, passing such a resolution “is what we can do.

“We try to effect change the best way we can, particularly when we’re not pleased, and we’re certainly not pleased with the level of antisemitism arising in horrible ways, including what we saw on Friday when a man, with his children, because he was wearing a kippah, was assaulted. It’’s hard to believe we’re living in these times and we have to do what we can to address those issues.”

Azerad told the meeting that he was “more than horrified” when Carney made his statement, “especially because the immediate release of the hostages was not his first and foremost priority.

Regarding Carney’s statement, “I see only one outcome — it rewards Hamas and robs us all of the prospect of a true and lasting peace….We have a moral obligation that must come before political expediency.”

The resolution is being sent to Carney, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather “and other relevant stakeholders.”

It is well known that Brownstein and most of council have been strong supporters of the Liberal Party, or if not the party as a whole, Anthony Housefather as MP. In light of the resolution stating Carney’s announcement empowers antisemitism and endangers the Montreal Jewish community, The Suburban asked Brownstein if he still feels comfortable remaining a member of the federal Liberal party.

The Mayor replied that he supports Housefather.

“He’s a great MP. He’s bringing the Minister of Public Safety to CSL and I’m going to get a chance to speak to him and show him where the Molotov cocktails were placed on our land” and near the Beth Israel Beth Aaron Synagogue last year.

“I believe it’s important to have people in all parties supporting the issues we hold dear to our hearts. I may not agree with [Quebec Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry] on language issues, but I’m pleased to have her in the CAQ supporting issues for the Jewish community. In that same way, I think Anthony’s doing a great job for our community and I’m very proud of him.” n

CSL council denounces Carney for ’empowering antisemitism’ Read More »

Israel flag at Hampstead town hall stays put

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The flag of Israel that has been flying at Hampstead town hall at Queen Mary Road and Stratford will be staying in place, Mayor Jeremy Levi recently said.

Levi had been asked about a letter posted online calling for the flag’s removal. The Mayor said he had not received the letter in question

“To whoever is spending their time on this nonsense: don’t bother,” he posted. “I will never take down the Israeli flag. If that’s a problem for you, vote me out next election. If standing with Israel costs me the next election, so be it. I’ll wear it as a badge of honour.”

The letter, allegedly from Hampstead residents, was posted on the Hampstead Community Dialogue notwithstanding their stated desire to settle the matter internally and not attract press that would negatively affect the Jewish community.

The writers, identifying themselves as Canadian citizens and Hampstead residents of “varying religious, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, argued that it is “inappropriate for the Israeli flag, a foreign flag, to be raised on the grounds of a Québécois and Canadian municipality.

“It would be equally inappropriate for the town of Blainville to raise the Iranian flag, and the town of Saint-Leonard to raise the Italian flag. These communities are not homogenous, and they serve people of diverse faiths and cultures. Hampstead is not fundamentally different from these towns. According to the 2021 census, approximately only 3.6% of residents of Hampstead possess Israeli citizenship. That would equate to about 250 individuals…..We can imagine that rather than being raised to represent constituents of Israeli origin, the flag is to be indefinitely raised because of Hampstead’s deeply Jewish population. Nevertheless, almost 37% of the population of Hampstead is not Jewish, but rather a mix of Christian, Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist. This leaves about 2,095 Québecois/Canadians/Hampstead folk who are all but guaranteed to have no inherent association with Israel.”

The letter writers also claimed that flying the flag at town hall, “simply because of a Jewish demographic majority, lends itself to the fallacy that the whole of Canadian Jewry aligns with Israeli politics or values, simply because they are Jewish. This in turn feeds into the antisemitic trope raised by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance that ‘Jewish citizens [are] more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.’

“Raising the flag at town hall effectively removes each Hampstead citizen’s ability to express their personal stance on Israel, (whether it be in support, ambivalence, or in opposition) in a way that is independent and self-determined. We feel it is unfair for you to unilaterally make this decision on behalf of 7,037 people.”

Some respondents have pointed out that Israel’s flag also flies at Côte St. Luc city hall, and that it is present as a sign of solidarity following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack in which 1,200 people were killed, many more injured and 250 kidnapped. One notable respondent, Florida Congressman Randy Fine, referred to Levi as a “hero”.

One of the alleged writers, identifying himself as Adam Ben David, said it was he and a couple of residents who wrote the letter, and that he will be presenting the letter to Levi in the near future. The next Hampstead council meeting is taking place Aug. 25.

Israel flag at Hampstead town hall stays put Read More »

Hampstead’s Levi, Steinberg spar again

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The third round of the ongoing sparring match between Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi and former mayor William Steinberg took place at the July 2 council meeting.

Previous debates between the two concerned town parkland on Queen Mary Road being potentially sold to make way for houses, and spending by the Mayor and council on trips to municipal conferences and salary increases. The June meeting concluded with Levi asking the SPVM to eject Steinberg from the meeting after the latter declined to relinquish the microphone, following a 15-minute debate between the two.

At the July meeting, Levi read the rules regarding conduct at council, pointing out that the Mayor is the chairman of the meeting and that certain behaviours are prohibited, including disobeying an order of the Mayor regarding order and decorum. The Mayor added that violations of rules could result in a $100 fine for a first offence and $200 for repeated offences. The bylaw also says a question can be asked, followed by a statement of no more than one minute.

Levi said the council rules would be adhered to strictly.

“These are not rules that were created by this mandate, they have been here for 20 years. We have been very lenient over the past four years at these council meetings during question periods, but there was a very unfortunate situation at the last council meeting, which basically crossed the line into civil disobedience and we have an obligation to carry out these meetings in the proper fashion and decorum.”

It was under these conditions that Steinberg asked his question.

Steinberg alleged that just after Levi was first elected Mayor in 2021, “you told the administration that you wanted your block of Merton and the sidewalk sections in front of your new house done that spring and summer….and it was done as requested,” Steinberg said. “The road and sidewalk sections were not amongst the worst in the town.”How do you justify this favouritism?” Steinberg asked.

Levi said Steinberg’s allegation was an “absurd, fallacious claim, that I directed Public Works to repave my street. I looked into it, because I saw that you wrote another slanderous piece [at billsteinberg.ca],” the Mayor said. “As it turns out, in 2019, when you were Mayor, there was a five-year plan [for] repaving roads, and Merton was scheduled to be repaved in 2022. You can file all the access to information requests that you want to regarding this. Merton had a scarification (road surface condition) rating of 54 back in 2019. It is absolutely absurd to suggest that I had anything to do with repaving my road. This was done under your watch! There was an entire schematic presented to me by our former Public Works director. You are more than welcome to file an access to information request, all the back up documentation showing it was scheduled in 2019 when I was not Mayor. It’s all there for your perusal.”

Steinberg then sat down and the council meeting proceeded. n

Hampstead’s Levi, Steinberg spar again Read More »

QPP cheques mailing advanced from July 23 to July 4

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Retraite Quebec told The Suburban Friday that Quebec Pension Plan cheques are being sent out through Canada Post much earlier than previously announced, July 4 instead of July 23.

We made the inquiry Wednesday July 2 after a reader told us that her QPP cheque for June had not yet arrived — it normally arrives in late June.

“When I called to follow up thinking it was lost or taken from my mailbox I was told that due to the possible impending postal strike — none here so far — that the mailing of these cheques would only be on July 23,” the reader, who asked that her name not be used, told us.

On the other hand, “the Canada pension cheque arrived by courier last week.There was no warning about this. I asked them how will I pay my rent on time. No answer other than they know it is a difficult situation. Just imagine a poor elderly person needing to pay their bills — food, medication, rent….now they have to wait over three weeks for their cheque to arrive. The QPP is not charity but something that we have paid for over the years. I do not know how they can get away with this!”

The Suburban checked some of the latest news from Retraite Québec and found that the date for the cheque delivery had changed. Just as we discovered this information, we received confirmation from Rétraite Québec spokesperson Frédéric Lizotte in response to our inquiry.

“Due to the postal dispute, Retraite Québec initially decided to ensure the delivery of QPP cheques using Canada Post’s essential services (July 23),” Lizotte said. “This decision was intended to ensure the safe delivery of cheques to customers and thus prevent them from being held up in the mail in the event of a complete postal service interruption.”

Lizotte added that “in light of the evolving situation, Retraite Québec has revised its decision, and the cheques were delivered to Canada Post today (July 4) for delivery in the coming days.”

Lizotte also strongly encouraged QPP cheque recipients to sign up for direct deposit “to avoid any payment delays in the future.

“Nearly 98 percent (over two million customers) are already signed up for direct deposit. Two percent — more than 42,000 customers — still receive their payments by cheque.” n

QPP cheques mailing advanced from July 23 to July 4 Read More »

Bin Laden-linked Montrealer charged with terrorism

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Mohamed Abdullah Warsame, who was connected with 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden, has now been charged with terrorism after being accused of uttering threats that could cause death or bodily harm.

The RCMP- Eastern Region announced that the accused “allegedly told a worker at the Old Brewery Mission that he intended to commit an attack with the goal of killing a large number of people.” The target has since been revealed to be public transit.

Now, Crown prosecutor Samuel Monfette-Tessier has upgraded the existing charge to terrorism, which according to the Criminal Code could potentially lead to a life sentence. The prosecutor has said he believes this is the first time the Criminal Code has been used in this way.

Warsame, a Canadian citizen of Somali descent, had been convicted in the United States in 2009, sentenced to 92 months in jail and then accepted back into Canada.

A judge, in early June, had ordered the accused to undergo 30 days of psychiatric examination at the Philippe-Pinel hospital to determine the extent of his criminal responsibility, but the defence asked that the results be sealed. Warsame was then transferred to Bordeaux and after that the Rivières des Prairies detention centre, sources told The Suburban.

As previously reported by The Suburban, according to the United States Department of Justice, Warsame was arrested in 2003 and sentenced to 92 months in jail and three years of supervised release in federal court in 2009 for “conspiring to provide material support and resources to al-Qaeda.”

Warsame had met Bin Laden before the 9/11 attacks. According to various sources, Warsame emigrated to Canada in 1989 and married an American woman from Minnesota in an arranged marriage, during which he still lived in Toronto and visited her periodically. He then went to Afghanistan in 2000, attracted by what he considered to be a utopian society n

Bin Laden-linked Montrealer charged with terrorism Read More »

Plans for massive mixed-use St. Laurent project unveiled

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The Canada Lands Company crown corporation held an open house recently to unveil its plans over the next seven years for a massive residential-commercial-cultural-greenspace project on the site of the 69-year-old former headquarters of the National Film Board on Côte de Liesse and Houde in St. Laurent.

The project will be 80 metres from the future Côte de Liesse REM station expected to be operational later this year, which means the NFB project will be part of a Transit Oriented Development (TOD).

The CLC, which specializes in real estate development, acquires strategically located federal sites that are no longer needed by the Canadian government. The corporation’s goal is to repurpose such sites and reintegrate them into the local community.

Christopher Sweetnam Holmes, the Canada Lands Company’s Senior Director for Real Estate for Quebec, told The Suburban during an interview on the NFB’s former soundstage that as part of the project, 80 percent of the existing NFB building will be preserved, while the rest will be demolished.

“We’re going to create three new hubs,” he added. “We’ll build 700 new units of housing, of which 50 percent will be non-market housing — social, affordable and non-profit. Then we’ll create a business and economic development hub, including spaces [along Houde] for local retail. Then we’ll create a culture and arts hub out of the unique spaces that are the legacy of the NFB, including this soundstage and the two theatres we have on the site.” Some 100 affordable housing units will be in the already existing National Film Board John Grierson office building on Houde, for which a non-profit developer will be selected, as was announced last year.

Holmes says it is too early in the process to know what the rents would be in the affordable and social housing units.

“We don’t build those buildings. We work with non-profit development partners and they have different clientele. They are the ones who propose the rents, but they have to fit in to the parameters of the City of Montreal and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for affordability.”

Holmes said the soundstage where our interview was conducted will eventually become a production and presentation venue for possible cultural events such as theatre, dance and a circus.

“We’re still looking who the partners will be for that, but the spaces are super neat. Rebuilding this space would have cost tens of millions of dollars. It’s perfectly tuned acoustically.”

Before our interview, The Suburban spent some time in a greenspace in the back of the NFB building, which is in decrepit shape with broken benches.

Holmes said that area and another, with a path between them, will be transformed into attractive parkspaces, one of which will have the NFB logo in the grass to pay tribute to the history of the site.

Asked about the project timeline, Holmes said a zoning change from the borough and City of Montreal is expected in early 2026.

“We’ve been working with them for a couple of years in the planning,” he added, also saying that the community has been consulted in the last several months, with 600 people in person and 3,000 people online participating.

Once the zoning is approved, the construction could begin and the park will be decontaminated and the existing buildings will be transformed during 2026.

The entire site is 49,000 square metres (528,000 square feet), “equivalent to six football fields.” Nearly 9,000 square metres will be devoted to parks and greenspace. The residential section will include three new buildings, including one that will be 14 storeys and two that will be 12 storeys each, as well as the existing Grierson building. The plan is to have residents begin to occupy units in 2028, and some new uses in the existing building — now used by CÉGEP St. Laurent — next year. The commercial and office area will occupy 35 percent of the entire site.A new street will be created to connect to Carré Benoit, which the CLC says will “strengthen ties between neighbourhoods.” Place Benoît is known as a low-income area of St. Laurent. n

Plans for massive mixed-use St. Laurent project unveiled Read More »

HRC slams TV host for accusing Hampstead Mayor of dual loyalty

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Honest Reporting Canada, which monitors Canadian media for anti-Israel bias, has condemned Lama Aggad for accusing Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi of dual loyalty.

Aggad, according to her own website, is a “media producer and television presenter of Lama TV, a weekly Canadian/Arabic talk show in Toronto on Omni Television.” Aggad states that she is in favour of freedom of expression, and claims she is “systematically targeted by the radical Zionist lobby in Canada for my defence of the just cause.”

Levi, an outspoken supporter of Israel on social media, had posted on June 22, “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH. That is the only way in the Middle East. Diplomacy never works with terrorists. The sad part is, you already know that.”

That post was in response to Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand’s posting, amidst the Israel-Iran conflict, that while “Canada has been consistent and clear that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons as they are a threat to international security,” the country “continues to support all efforts aimed at de-escalation, protecting civilian lives, and restoring stability through diplomacy. We urge parties to return to the negotiating table and reach a resolution to this crisis.”

Aggad responded to Levi’s statement by posting, “impeach Jeremy Levi from his mayoral position immediately and ensure he is deported to Israel without delay! His allegiance is clearly not to Canada, and is actively supporting the escalation towards World War III. Yalla barra wala.”

HRC responded that it is outrageous for Aggad, “previously accused of engaging in antisemitism, to accuse Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi of having dual loyalties, Israel over Canada. Accusing Jews in the diaspora of being untrustworthy and disloyal to their home countries and therefore more loyal to fellow Jews and the State of Israel, is a classic antisemitic trope according to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism. This antisemitic trope – which has existed since time immemorial – is used to vilify and scapegoat Jews.”

HRC added that Liberal MP Anthony Housefather and former Liberal MP Michael Levitt had years before been accused of dual loyalty, “and Canadian politicians of all stripes rallied to their support.

“Antisemitic canards have absolutely no place in Canadian political discourse. Canadian politicians should stand in solidarity with Mayor Levi to condemn this hateful slur.”

On June 24, Aggad commented about former New York governor and losing New York mayoralty candidate Andrew Cuomo by posting, “hey former Mayor Cuomo (Andrew Cuomo was never NYC Mayor), now that you’re free, feel free to head to Israel. You are better off there.”

She added that Zohran Mamdani, who won the NYC Democrat mayoral primary, “will step up for New Yorkers including Jewish New Yorkers who are fully New Yorkers, not Israelis. This is a distinction you’ve struggled to grasp. Remember, you WERE the mayor of New York, not Tel Aviv. (Again, Cuomo was never Mayor of New York), and Jeremy Levi needs to take note because we’ll ensure he’s out in the next elections, just like you were.” n

HRC slams TV host for accusing Hampstead Mayor of dual loyalty Read More »

RCMP to send Oberman Israel-Gaza probe documents

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Spiegel Ryan senior partner Neil Oberman has confirmed to The Suburban that the RCMP will soon be sending him documents related to the national police agency’s probe into possible war crimes by “those with a nexus to Canada” during the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.

The probe stirred much controversy after initial reports that the RCMP was “criminally” investigating only Israeli Defence Forces soldiers who also are Canadian citizens and not Canadian citizens who went to fight or help in Gaza. Those reports were inaccurate.

The RCMP issued a clarification, saying the probe is “structural” in nature, and not criminal, and involves both sides of the conflict. The national police agency has not said what prompted the probe or any of its findings. Some Jewish community groups remained skeptical.

As recently reported by The Suburban, in light of the RCMP investigation, Oberman, the former Mount Royal Conservative candidate, sent a letter to the federal government’s Access to Information and Privacy Branch and RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme asking for assistance in preparing and submitting an Access To Information request to “obtain all non-privileged records (emails, communications) related to the RCMP’s decision to launch a structural investigation into alleged war crimes connected to the Israel–Hamas conflict in Gaza,” such as memos, briefing notes, meeting minutes and presentation slides” as well as “internal analyses regarding RCMP jurisdiction and authority in investigating war crimes abroad, and ministerial instructions or orders to the RCMP concerning the investigation.”

Asked for an update, the lawyer told The Suburban that the RCMP “has confirmed that they will be furnishing some of the documents we requested, which marks a significant step forward for our investigation.

“Upon receipt of these documents, I will undertake a meticulous assessment to ascertain their implications and how they might influence the trajectory of our investigation.”

Oberman added that “transparency is paramount in matters of such gravity, and I fully recognize the public’s right to remain informed.

“Rest assured, I am committed to ensuring that all relevant information is disseminated appropriately and in a timely manner. I am dedicated to keeping (The Suburban) abreast of any new developments as they unfold.” n

RCMP to send Oberman Israel-Gaza probe documents Read More »

Court of Appeal supports MUHC decision to end ‘life-sustaining care’ in N.G. Case

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The Quebec Court of Appeal recently upheld a Superior Court ruling agreeing with the McGill University Health Centre’s position that a 77-year-old patient (identified as N.G.) must be allowed to die with dignity according to a palliative care plan, and not continue futile and unethical “life-sustaining treatment.”

The appellant, the sister of the patient acting on his behalf, refused to consent to the palliative care plan.

“The judge performed a structured and thorough analysis ‘in accordance with legal requirements and with utmost respect for human rights,’” Judges Robert Mainville, Guy Cournoyer and Judith Harvie ruled. “The proposed Care Plan makes it possible to put an end to futile treatments and preserve the patient’s human dignity up to the very last moment through care that is humane and provides comfort measures until his death, a death which appears inevitable in this case given his distressing medical condition and the absence of any reasonable expectation of improvement.”

The patient, in 2007, authorized his sister, “in the event of his incapacity, to consent to any care required by his state of health ‘to the extent that such care is beneficial.’”

The court document points out the patient had a perforated stomach ulcer, an abdominal hernia, “for which he declined surgical treatment,” a left femur injury, a broken hip and a kidney obstruction.

Over time, he refused treatment and on five occasions, left the medical institutions that were treating him, each time resulting in rehospitalizations. At one point, he declined medications and, through his sister, insisted on being intubated, even as this course of treatment risked infection.

This prompted the MUHC to seek two psychiatric assessments, both of which recommended confinement for 30 days.

One MUHC doctor opined that while patients have the right to refuse care, “the objection to basic standard care while insisting on all other life sustaining measures is illogical and harmful in the long run to the patient.”

The patient left the hospital again and then quickly had to be rehospitalized.

The Superior Court subsequently, last May, authorized a 12-month care plan, which was initially successful, but the patient then experienced seven minutes of cardiac arrest and suffered brain damage, never regaining consciousness. The MUHC recommended palliative care instead of life-sustaining treatment.

However, the sister believed her brother could still recover and “considered that he… had the right to live.”

The hospital felt the life-sustaining care was “causing unnecessary pain and suffering by prolonging the patient’s agony,” that he was in a vegetative state, “mortality was inevitable” and recommended the halting of various measures, including resuscitation.

The Superior Court ruled last October that “the patient is incapable of giving consent and cannot participate in decision making regarding his care” and that the sister’s refusal to accept this is “unreasonable and unjustified.” The judge also agreed that death was inevitable.

The sister appealed the Superior Court judgment, arguing that it “infringes the patient’s right to life.” The MUHC countered that “continuing the [life-sustaining] treatment violates medical principles and ethics.”

The Court of Appeal agreed with the Superior Court judgment. n

Court of Appeal supports MUHC decision to end ‘life-sustaining care’ in N.G. Case Read More »

St. Laurent company’s complaint prompts China probe

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The St. Laurent company Media Cash Register Inc. was one of several complainants prompting a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) probe into the “alleged dumping and subsidizing of thermal paper rolls from China,” the agency announced.

The St. Laurent firm, founded in 1980, is one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of point-of-sale paper rolls in North America.

The CBSA says it is looking into whether the thermal paper rolls originating in or being exported from China are “being sold at unfair prices and/or subsidized. Thermal paper is used in such devices as adding machines, cash registers, credit card terminals and portable printers.

“These practices can harm Canadian industries by undercutting Canadian prices, which undermines fair competition,” the agency stated.

The other complainants were McDermid Paper Converters Limited of Markham, Ontario and Custom Paper Ltd. of Richmond, B.C..

“The complainants allege that as a result of an increase in the volume of the dumped and subsidized imports from China, they have suffered material injury in the form of lost sales and market share, price undercutting, reduced capacity utilization, price depression and suppression, losses of profitability, and negative impacts on employment, wages, and investments,” the CBSA says.

The CBSA added that it and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) “both play a role in the investigations.The CITT will begin a preliminary inquiry to determine whether the imports are harming Canadian producers and will issue a decision by August 11, 2025. Concurrently, the CBSA will investigate whether the imports are being sold in Canada at unfair prices and/or are being subsidized, and will make preliminary decisions by September 10, 2025.”

The agency added that there are “158 special import measures in force in Canada, covering a wide variety of industrial and consumer products. These measures have directly helped to protect approximately 31,000 Canadian jobs and $11.6 billion in Canadian production.” n

St. Laurent company’s complaint prompts China probe Read More »

Sharp rise in attempted murders and assaults in WE and WI

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Crimes against individuals greatly increased in the areas served by the western sector of the SPVM, including the West Island and the west end, says the recently released SPVM 2024 annual report.

As a whole, for the entire island, the report said that firearm crimes decreased by 19 percent from 2023, and by 47 percent from 2021. Thefts of vehicles decreased by 25 percent compared to 2023 — some west end councils have warned owners of Japanese SUVs to be especially vigilant.

“The upward trend in many crimes against persons, seen in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada before the pandemic, continued in 2024,” the report points out. “In Montreal, the number of crimes against persons reported in 2024 increased by 7.3% compared to 2023 and by 27.8% compared to the average for the last five years.”

The report says that, overall, Criminal Code offences increased by 3.4 percent, while crimes against property “remained stable.” The Suburban has reported in recent years about numerous incidents of arson at businesses and of vehicles, including in parking lots and at private homes.

The western sector of the SPVM covers Station 1 (Baie-D’Urfé, Beaconsfield, Kirkland, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Senneville), Station 3 (Île Bizard, Pierrefonds, Ste. Geneviève, Roxboro), Station 4 (Dollard des Ormeaux), Station 5 (Dorval, Dorval Island, Pointe Claire), Station 7 (St. Laurent), Station 8 (Lachine, St. Pierre), Station 9 (Côte St. Luc, Hampstead, Montreal West, NDG), Station 13 (LaSalle), Station 26 (Côte des Neiges, Town of Mount Royal, Outremont), and Station 55 (Trudeau Airport).

As a whole for the western sector, crime against people increased from 8,294 in 2023 to 8,804 in 2024. Murders decreased from seven to six, and in 2024, they occurred in DDO (one), St. Laurent (one), Lachine (three), and LaSalle (one). There was one offence resulting in death in 2024, taking place in the Station 26 area.

Attempted murders increased significantly from 19 in 2023 to 32 last year in the western sector. The most, eight, took place in the Lachine area, followed by six in the Station 26 area, five each in Dollard and St. Laurent, and four in the Station 9 area.

The bulk of the crimes against people in the western sector was assaults, with 4,988 taking place in 2024 compared to 4,808 in 2023. The highest number of these took place in the Station 26 area (1,233), with 718 taking place in the Station 9 area. As well, 565 sexual assaults took place in the western sector in 2024, compared to 539 the year before. The highest number of these (111) took place in the Station 26 area, followed by 95 in St. Laurent, 84 in LaSalle and 66 in the Station 9 area.

There were 846 robberies in the western sector in 2024, compared to 753 the year before. The highest number of these (200) took place in the Station 26 area, followed by 121 in the area covered by Station 9.

There were 2,366 other offences in the western sector in 2024, compared to 2,168 in 223. The highest number of these by far was 561 in the Station 26 area, followed by 347 in the Station 9 area.

In other categories, crimes against property amounted to 15,943 in the western sector in 2024, compared to 16,866 in 2023, a significant decrease. The highest number of such crimes were instances of petty larceny. As mentioned above, The Suburban has reported on several instances of arson, and 26 of those took place in St. Laurent followed by 21 in the Station 9 area. n

Sharp rise in attempted murders and assaults in WE and WI Read More »

Judge allows report on SSMU’s alleged antisemitism in student’s case

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Superior Court Judge Patrick Ferland ruled recently that a former McGill student can use a report by Concordia professor emeritus Ira Robinson as part of the plaintiff’s case against the Students’ Society of McGill University.

The student, who was a member of the SSMU, is represented by lawyers Michael Bergman and Patrycja Nowakowska.

The plaintiff, who is asking the court not to allow the adoption of the SSMU’s “Policy Against Genocide in Palestine” as well as for $125,000 in moral and punitive damages, argued that the anti-Israel policy “violates the SSMU’s constitution and breaches its obligation to represent all its members, that it contains false statements and that it promotes antisemitism.”

The SSMU argued that Robinson’s report is “not based on any specialized knowledge, not likely to inform the court, that “he does not have the required qualifications to act as an expert” and that “the admission of his report risks diverting the debate and prolonging the proceedings.”

Robinson, who was asked to determine whether the SSMU policy contained antisemitic tropes, said he “adhered to generally accepted principles in the humanities and social sciences.”

Robinson’s report argues that the SSMU policy’s references to Israel “must be seen as a reference to its Jewish character,” and that claims of genocide by Israel “allegedly omit to address certain aspects of the situation in the Gaza Strip.” He adds that use of the terms, in relation to the Israel-Palestinian issue, such as “settler colonialism”, “apartheid” and “ethnic cleansing” all “originate in contexts unrelated to Israeli-Palestinian relations, and that they are used in the policy without making the necessary distinctions.”

Robinson’s report concluded that “virulent criticism of Israel has become a convenient substitute for antisemitism, which is no longer acceptable [and] the pro-Palestinian discourse frequently uses symbolic language drawn from other contexts in order to shock and evoke feelings of hatred and revulsion against Israel.”

The judge found that the SSMU can “hardly maintain that Professor Robinson is insufficiently qualified to provide an analysis that it otherwise considers requires no specialized knowledge,” as he is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Religions and Cultures at Concordia University, and has written books on antisemitism.

“Professor Robinson’s training, professional experience, and publications suggest that he likely has specialized and in-depth knowledge of several of the concepts discussed in his report, beginning with the notion of antisemitism and its various manifestations, including what his report calls antisemitic tropes, antisemitic clichés and stereotypes.”

On the other hand, the judge did agree with the SSMU that the report opines on the intentions of its authors.

“The report does not identify on what basis Professor Robinson would express such opinions—neither the qualifications that would allow him to draw such conclusions, nor the information on which he would base his judgment.”

But the judge added that this does not mean the report should be declared inadmissible.

“A report should therefore only be rejected on the basis of an alleged insufficiency of qualifications in clear cases which is not at all the case here.”

The judge concluded that the SSMU policy and Robinson’s report “deal with complex concepts, susceptible to different interpretations but always inevitably laden with weighty significance.

“Their use in the Policy also takes place within a historical, social, cultural, and political context that is itself complex and that gives rise to vigorous debate, including, presumably, among student members of the SSMU. In such a context, it cannot be concluded that expert evidence on these issues would be of such limited utility that it would necessarily be outweighed by its prejudicial effect.”

For this reason, the court rejected the SSMU’s claim, and ordered legal costs to be paid after the outcome of the original lawsuit. n

Judge allows report on SSMU’s alleged antisemitism in student’s case Read More »

11th annual D’Arcy McGee medals awarded

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

By: Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The 11th annual D’Arcy McGee medal ceremony took place June 12 at the Ashkelon Gardens at Côte St. Luc city hall, hosted by riding MNA Elisabeth Prass.

The ceremony was initiated by Prass’s predecessor David Birnbaum, to recognize individuals and organizations who have had a positive impact on the area covered by the riding, which includes Côte St. Luc, Hampstead and CDN-NDG.

This year’s honourees were Heidi Berger, founder and president of the Foundation for Genocide Education; Nicole Nashen, a McGill University student and advocate for Jewish students; Agence Ometz, a community organization serving Montreal’s Jewish community and the Côte des Neiges Black Community Association, a “longstanding advocate against systemic racism and a pillar of Montreal’s Black community.”

“You represent different communities, different generations and different spheres of work, but you are united by a shared belief in the power of community, the necessity of justice and the importance of taking action,” Prass told the recipients.

Prass described Heidi Berger as “a woman whose work reminds us that education is not just about knowledge, it is about responsibility.

“Heidi has taken on the mission that many find daunting or uncomfortable, to teach the difficult truths of our world’s darkest chapters, so that they are never repeated. She has travelled across schools, spoken to students, developed resources, and worked hand in hand with educators to integrate genocide education into Quebec’s curriculum. And she has done this not just with academic rigour, but with deep moral conviction.”

Berger could not be present, but in a message by her read by Prass, she thanked Prass and Birnbaum for “their tireless support in our ongoing campaign to have genocide education made mandatory in Quebec. I know you both believe strongly as I do that the best way to develop future leaders and citizens is through education.”

The organization’s administrative coordinator Anna Mazur accepted the medal on Berger’s behalf.

Of Nashen, Prass said that “at a time when Jewish communities in Quebec and around the world are facing a troubling rise in hate speech, harassment, and acts of violence, Nicole has chosen not to look away. She has chosen instead to educate, to engage and to act.”

Nashen could not be present, but her mother Dr. Judy Hagshi read a message from Nashen, saying last week’s recognition is “especially significant as it marks the end of six intense, rewarding and often challenging years of student leadership.”

The third recipient was Agence Ometz, represented by CEO Dominique McCaughey. Prass said that for more than a century, Ometz, and previously as Jewish Immigrant Aid Services, “has been a pillar in our city, helping individuals face their challenges with dignity, compassion and practical support. A central community organization for the Montreal Jewish community, Ometz has provided holistic support to individuals and families in areas such as mental health, employment, newcomer integration and youth services. Its inclusive, proactive and collaborative approach strengthens the resilience and autonomy of people through empathy, accessibility and social connection.”

McCaughey thanked Prass “for being an incredible advocate. Our services are really wraparound services in immigration, employment and social services — really, everything starts with having a wonderful team.”

Prass said the Côte des Neiges Black Community Association has been a “pillar of Montreal’s English-speaking Black community” for more than 50 years.

The association “has long recognized that systemic barriers, whether in education, employment, housing or access to services, must be actively dismantled. The association combats systemic racism through impactful programs in education, social services, culture, entrepreneurship and food security.”

“This is a great honour,” CDNBCA executive chair Ayanna Alleyne told the ceremony. “We’ve been trying really hard to make an impact and stay relevant.”

On hand for the event were David Birnbaum, Côte St. Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein and members of CSL council, former D’Arcy McGee MNA Robert Libman, Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather, English Montreal School Board chairman Joe Ortona and former commissioner Ellie Israel, former CSL councillors Allan Levine and Glenn Nashen, Nicole’s father; United Against Hate Canada’s Marvin Rotrand and many others. n

11th annual D’Arcy McGee medals awarded Read More »

The LPQ leadership race: Charles Milliard

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Beryl Wajsman and Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Beryl Wajsman: You have a very interesting history. You’ve been an executive vice president of Uniprix. You know big pharma. You know how a critical industry such as healthcare works. You’ve been at National Communications. You were president of the Fédération des Chambres de commerce du Québec. You understand public policy. Clearly, you’re a leader in civil society but some would say with those positions, you could make more of a positive impact on Quebec society than in elective office. Why go and take the plunge?

Charles Milliard: That’s a good question. I started my involvement in the Liberal Party of Quebec, when I was 18 years old back in 1998, in Lévis, which is not that Liberal of a riding. It has always been my political family and I was always interested in getting more active in public service. In politics, you need two things. Conviction and timing, and I think the timing is great for me because we’re at the start of a new political cycle in Quebec. I think Mr. Legault is almost done. We’ll have a new offer coming both from the PQ and the PLQ in a year and a half from now. I think the party needs to give the keys to a new generation and that’s why I thought it would be interesting to give all of my experience to my party and Quebec.

BW: But not giving the keys to a new generation for the sake of age. Is it not more about change for the politics of conviction, not of consensus, especially at a time of crisis?

CM: I agree with that.

BW: Part of that is political leaders telling people, look, we’ve given away a lot of money to make people happy not just in Quebec, but particularly at the federal level. We spend a great percentage of our budgets not on what is critical but on nice things like multiculturalism and diversity. Meanwhile, our seniors are in dire positions. They’re below the poverty line. Our healthcare system, I don’t have to tell you, you know better than I. What convictions will you not compromise on? And what convictions set you apart from Mr. Rodriguez and Mr. Blackburn?

CM: As you mentioned, we cannot distribute money that we don’t have. So we’re going to need more fiscal responsibility in Quebec City and Ottawa. And I’m quite happy with what I’m seeing in the past weeks coming from the Carney government but we’ll see what happens in the coming months. As for Quebec, I think there’s three main issues, healthcare, economy and the vitality of our different regions. That’s the reason I’m going into politics. I want to give more access to healthcare. Obviously, this is where I come from as a pharmacist. I put a lot of ideas on the table. The first being having a telemedicine service. I think that has worked great in the private sector for the past few years. We need to bring that to the public system. In education, we need to work on the level of dropouts that we have in Quebec. I think we should raise the minimum age you need to stay in school from 16 to 18 years old. I think we need a new Estates General, a national commission on education. It’s been way too long since the last time we spoke about education in a larger sense in Quebec. The youth commission has asked for a commission, which is something I think we need to do 60 years after the creation of the Ministry of Education. Those are things that I’m not going to compromise on because they’re the basic services that the Quebec government has to give. It’s more important to talk about education and health care than about identity, language and all those issues that have been dividing us for decades.

BW: You brought up two things that we’ve written a lot about. You talk about telemedicine, education and the dropout rate. Just several days ago, Newsweek named Dr Lawrence Rosenberg, director-general the Jewish General Hospital, one of the 25 best global CEOs of medicine.

CM: Coming from one of the top hospitals in North America also.

BW: To what you were saying, his pet project that he has installed is what’s called a command centre is telemedicine, the most advanced one. He’s been begging Quebec for more resources and just to make an alliance with apparently one of the best programs of one of the hospitals in Israel, this could really make telemedicine, particularly for seniors, extraordinarily available.

CM: Especially in the rural areas of Quebec where there are no doctors available.

BW: You mentioned the dropout rate. For whatever reason, 58 percent of francophone young men in French public high schools drop out.

CM: It’s even worse in some regions of Quebec.

BW: This is a critical issue and nobody knows why it is happening.

CM: Well that’s one of the main ingredients for our collective success, to have more youth with diplomas. We need to work on that.

BW: What would you say are the vital things that differentiate you from Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Rodriguez?

CM: We’re all Liberals, so I would say similar issues.

BW: It’s a very civilized race.

CM: Maybe too much, but again we’re Liberals, so we know how to behave. I think it’s a question of style and a question of what is our narrative for the upcoming general election. Our main opponent will be Paul St-Pierre Plamondon. He is popular with Quebecers right now, and if there’s an election tomorrow, he’s going to become our Premier, according to the polls. I do know that we should not always count on the polls. But with that being said, I think people like the way he does politics much more than what he says.

BW: I think they like his style.

CM: And it contrasts with Mr. Legault, who has more of an old school style of politics. I also enter with a new way of doing politics but with much more different content, a more Liberal one. I think it would be a very interesting thing to see a leaders debate in a year and a half from now with myself, Mr. Plamondon and Mr. Legault. When you’re talking about renewal, it’s not a question of age, you’re right, it’s a question of what you represent for the future and the fact that so many young Liberals have supported me from day one. It’s been 300 days I’m on the road, having been the first to declare. I’m actually the dean of this campaign! Can you believe that? From what I’m hearing from Liberals that are 70 years old and 16 years old, I think they believe it’s time to write a new chapter of the party. When I see my co-president of the campaign chatting with [former MNA] Clifford Lincoln, I think there’s going to be a connection that is going to be fruitful for the future of the party.

BW: This is a major issue not only for the Jewish community, but the businesspeople downtown. Will you use your moral suasion if you become Premier to push Montreal police to enforce Criminal Code provisions against what we’re seeing in our streets, both the attacks on Jews directly but also the attacks on businesses downtown, the clogging up of traffic all the time at the drop of a hat?The Premier’s authority over security is Montreal is limited, obviously, but will you use moral suasion like Premier Legault tried to do to push Madame Plante to enforce the law?

CM: The short answer is yes. I think we need to show more leadership as to what’s happening in our streets in Montreal right now. I’ve been very clear that I’m standing with the Jewish community. A lot of people from the community are officially or discretely supporting my campaign. So, I’ll be very adamant about that and I think the municipality has all the regulations in place to implement that. But we need more leadership from Quebec City as to what the municipalities should do. We need freedom of speech, but we need safety as well. Maybe more empowerment and responsibility coming from the university campuses as well. n

The LPQ leadership race: Charles Milliard Read More »

The LPQ leadership race: Karl Blackburn

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Beryl Wajsman and Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Beryl Wajsman: Your reputation is well known and respected. Everybody knows you had medical challenges late last year. Hopefully, you’ve overcome them. Karl Blackburn: Yes. BW: But you’re a man who knows politics. And you’re a man who knows the odds. Because it turned out to be so late, why enter the race? KB: As you said, last year I received bad news about my health, when my doctor told me I have prostate cancer, but I had surgery in 2024 and last March, a few weeks ago, my doctor said “you don’t have any more signs of cancer in your blood. With the surgery that we did, I can say you’re now in remission, which means you don’t have any professional restrictions.” The final date to be able to enter the leadership race for the PLQ was April 11. Yes, it was late but it was not too late. This is why I decided to launch the leadership race. In the last few weeks, I feel I have very great support everywhere, in every region. BW: You have not only been an MNA and president of the Conseil du patronat du Québec, you were also chief organizer of the Liberal Party of Quebec. What do you feel is the support in the regions? KB: This year is completely different than the last leadership race. Every member will have the possibility to vote for the new leader. We need to create a buildup with a lot of people. When I decided to jump into the race I was sure of one thing — I have a strong economic point of view about what we need for Quebec and what we should put in place to be able to avoid the economic war declared by the Trump administration, but also, how can we bring together all Quebecers. This is my focus on this very important issue for the PLQ, but also for every Quebecer. BW: This is very important what you said about the vote. KB: it’s the same number of points for every riding. If we have 1,000 members in D’Arcy McGee or 1,000 members in Roberval, they are equal in in the voting system and this is a very important gain for the PLQ and its members. BW: How do your priorities differ from the other candidates? KB: I have a very strong economic vision. I know exactly what we need to be able to regain strength, regain growth and regain prosperity in our economic system. This is exactly what I am proposing. BW: What do we need to regain? KB: Lower fiscality, lower regulation and lower taxes. We have to find some new markets and we have to invest in our national defense industrial politics. I think I have a very important mission and a vision about the economic sector. Also, I know one thing, it is very important for all of Quebec if we are working all together, Montreal, Quebec and the regions, where we will be stronger than ever. I know the regions very well, and the importance for the regions to have the capacity to build, to create things, made from our natural resources, but to also work closely with Montreal. Montreal is the heart of Quebec, Montreal is supposed to attract the best talent from all around the world. BW: I think the Montreal region is two-thirds of Quebec GDP. KB: When we look at the recent decisions made by Mr. Legault, it’s completely bad news for Montreal. I think we need to fix it, to address it. I’m talking about the university tuitions and the last few bills passed by the CAQ government. I have a strong parliamentary experience. I know the party and the members very well, and the members know me very well. This is a very important distinction between the other candidates and myself. I think I am the most complete candidate to be able to remobilize the PLQ, to reconnect with the regions, but also to bring all Quebecers together. I’m not going to place francophones against anglophones. I’m not going to place regions against Montreal. We must all work together. In this way, we’re going to be stronger. BW: The Liberal party lost Verdun and St. Henri-Ste. Anne. They lost it on economic justice issues. Can you bring back the voice of economic justice for working men and women in urban Montreal? KB: Honestly, I will. We lost our economic identity. In 2018, Mr. Legault stole this identity, and you’re right what you said. But one thing is sure, the most important thing we will have to discuss is that we understand each other and this is always what we’re going to promote. I have an open leadership. I have the determination to bring together all Quebecers. We need to create prosperity. If we want to preserve our health and education systems, and support the [more marginalized in society], we need to have a strong economy to make sure that we are going to evolve. To share this prosperity with all Quebecers. BW: Would you use your moral suasion to press Montreal’s mayor to allow police to enforce the Criminal Code against violent and hate-filled demonstrators that plague downtown Montreal and threaten Jews and attack synagogues and churches? KB: The right to protest ends where hate and violence begin. As leader, I would urge the Mayor of Montreal to act firmly so that the law is enforced, and all Montrealers—regardless of their faith or background—can feel safe in their own city.

n

The Suburban’s editor-in-chief Beryl Wajsman sat down with the three leading candidates for the Quebec Liberal Party leadership recently. Here is his interview with Karl Blackburn.

Beryl Wajsman: Your reputation is well known and respected. Everybody knows you had medical challenges late last year. Hopefully, you’ve overcome them.

Karl Blackburn: Yes.

BW: But you’re a man who knows politics. And you’re a man who knows the odds. Because it turned out to be so late, why enter the race?

KB: As you said, last year I received bad news about my health, when my doctor told me I have prostate cancer, but I had surgery in 2024 and last March, a few weeks ago, my doctor said “you don’t have any more signs of cancer in your blood. With the surgery that we did, I can say you’re now in remission, which means you don’t have any professional restrictions.” The final date to be able to enter the leadership race for the PLQ was April 11. Yes, it was late but it was not too late. This is why I decided to launch the leadership race. In the last few weeks, I feel I have very great support everywhere, in every region.

BW: You have not only been an MNA and president of the Conseil du patronat du Québec, you were also chief organizer of the Liberal Party of Quebec. What do you feel is the support in the regions?

KB: This year is completely different than the last leadership race. Every member will have the possibility to vote for the new leader. We need to create a buildup with a lot of people. When I decided to jump into the race I was sure of one thing — I have a strong economic point of view about what we need for Quebec and what we should put in place to be able to avoid the economic war declared by the Trump administration, but also, how can we bring together all Quebecers. This is my focus on this very important issue for the PLQ, but also for every Quebecer.

BW: This is very important what you said about the vote.

KB: it’s the same number of points for every riding. If we have 1,000 members in D’Arcy McGee or 1,000 members in Roberval, they are equal in in the voting system and this is a very important gain for the PLQ and its members.

BW: How do your priorities differ from the other candidates?

KB: I have a very strong economic vision. I know exactly what we need to be able to regain strength, regain growth and regain prosperity in our economic system. This is exactly what I am proposing.

BW: What do we need to regain?

KB: Lower fiscality, lower regulation and lower taxes. We have to find some new markets and we have to invest in our national defense industrial politics. I think I have a very important mission and a vision about the economic sector. Also, I know one thing, it is very important for all of Quebec if we are working all together, Montreal, Quebec and the regions, where we will be stronger than ever. I know the regions very well, and the importance for the regions to have the capacity to build, to create things, made from our natural resources, but to also work closely with Montreal. Montreal is the heart of Quebec, Montreal is supposed to attract the best talent from all around the world.

BW: I think the Montreal region is two-thirds of Quebec GDP.

KB: When we look at the recent decisions made by Mr. Legault, it’s completely bad news for Montreal. I think we need to fix it, to address it. I’m talking about the university tuitions and the last few bills passed by the CAQ government. I have a strong parliamentary experience. I know the party and the members very well, and the members know me very well. This is a very important distinction between the other candidates and myself. I think I am the most complete candidate to be able to remobilize the PLQ, to reconnect with the regions, but also to bring all Quebecers together. I’m not going to place francophones against anglophones. I’m not going to place regions against Montreal. We must all work together. In this way, we’re going to be stronger.

BW: The Liberal party lost Verdun and St. Henri-Ste. Anne. They lost it on economic justice issues. Can you bring back the voice of economic justice for working men and women in urban Montreal?

KB: Honestly, I will. We lost our economic identity. In 2018, Mr. Legault stole this identity, and you’re right what you said. But one thing is sure, the most important thing we will have to discuss is that we understand each other and this is always what we’re going to promote. I have an open leadership. I have the determination to bring together all Quebecers. We need to create prosperity. If we want to preserve our health and education systems, and support the [more marginalized in society], we need to have a strong economy to make sure that we are going to evolve. To share this prosperity with all Quebecers.

{div}BW: Would you use your moral suasion to press Montreal’s mayor to allow police to enforce the Criminal Code against violent and hate-filled demonstrators that plague downtown Montreal and threaten Jews and attack synagogues and churches?{/div}

{div} {/div}

{div}KB: The right to protest ends where hate and violence begin. As leader, I would urge the Mayor of Montreal to act firmly so that the law is enforced, and all Montrealers—regardless of their faith or background—can feel safe in their own city.{/div} n

The LPQ leadership race: Karl Blackburn Read More »

Montrealers react to The Bay closure

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Dan Laxer, Joel Goldenberg and Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The Suburban reached out to Montrealers before The Bay’s final closing to gauge their reactions and what the iconic chain meant to them. How people felt seemed to differ along generational lines. Derek Alleyne, responding to The Suburban via Messenger, says The Bay remained for many years as the sole survivor of the Big 3; Eaton’s and Simpson’s being the other two (note the apostrophes). “When I purchased gifts for people from The Bay I felt a sense of pride.” He says he’ll miss walking into the building on Ste. Catherine Street, getting Christmas gifts packed in The Bay boxes, and hearing jingles for The Bay on TV and radio. Whenever he walked past the downtown location he’d think “I’m happy this place is still around.”

Dylan Heisler remembers his first trip to The Bay in 2019. It was at the Rockland location, where he went to buy his first adult wristwatch for his high school graduation. That was also the last time he shopped there. “It’s the oldest store in Canada,” he says. “It’s kind of foundational, so it’s unfortunate.” His sister, Maya, was more matter-of-fact. “It’s sad, I guess,” she shrugged. “I mean sometimes they had good deals. My friends and I would browse there sometimes, but we didn’t spend a lot of money there.”

At the downtown flagship Bay, which has been a department store — first as Morgan’s — since 1891, The Suburban saw at least one employee with a sad, distressed expression. She did not want to be interviewed.

Other longtime Bay shoppers did offer their reactions. “It’s very sad, people are losing their jobs, that’s not so good, but there are reasons they are closing,” said Lise, who did not want to give her last name. “Their systems are archaic. We were waiting two and a half hours in line to place an order for a piece of furniture on the fourth floor.” “We remember Eaton’s and Simpson’s,” said Gilles. Lise added that they have been shopping at The Bay “forever. We’re wondering what will be the next institution with a long life expectancy. I’m sure there will be something else in this building.”

Robert Aubin and Diane Boutin also said they were longtime shoppers, also at the time Eaton’s and Simpson’s existed as department stores. “We shopped in the men’s and women’s departments, for beauty products, many things, and we bought clothes for our two young girls, who are now wives,” said Aubin. “We will remember La Baie, and we’re very sorry about it closing.””I feel the same,” said Boutin.

Rose Marie Perugino said she started shopping at what was then Morgan’s in 1965, when she was working for Bell Canada. “I feel bad that it’s closing, it’s a staple in our Canadian history,” she added. “They should keep the downtown store open, it’s a beautiful place, so well known and the Métro’s there. If the building is not occupied, it would be very sad.”

For some West Islanders however, the reaction to The Bay closures was quite different. When asked how the closure affected them, residents like Nancy Weir’s response to The Suburban was “Not at all. It was a very expensive store.”

Though in agreement regarding high price points, for Steven Zeitz, the closures also represent the loss of Canada’s last standing department store, but that was in a way already losing its charm. “We lost the only department store left in Canada. Once Bonnie Brooks left, The Bay lost sight of who their customer was. They were carrying higher end brands and the stores were old and worn. They lacked value and service. Customer service was almost non existent. They did not respect mall hours, often closing early. Escalators were broken. You can’t serve expensive wine in a paper cup. They did have a pretty good e-commerce business that was quite easy to use but since it was based on in-store inventory, it can not continue. Sad but online sales brands will fill the gap.”

Didier K., a prominent businessman in the West Island, told The Suburban “It’s unfortunate that after all this time, they are closing. It really is an institution. Unfortunately their entire way of doing business was to raise prices, only to put things on special. Their real estate footprint made it impossible for them to survive. And their inability to pivot made it so that they couldn’t sell what they needed in a timely fashion. Trying to find anyone (for service) was worse than trying to find anyone at Rona or Home Depot, and that’s saying something. RIP to the oldest retail store in Canada.” n

Montrealers react to The Bay closure Read More »

Montreal man linked to Bin Laden arrested for uttering threats

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Mohamed Abdullah Warsame, 51, who was connected with 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden, was arrested in Montreal and appeared by video in court accused of uttering threats that could cause death or bodily harm.

A judge ordered the accused to undergo 30 days of psychiatric examination at the Philippe-Pinel hospital to determine the extent of his criminal responsibility.

Warsame, a Canadian citizen of Somali descent, had been convicted in the United States in 2009, sentenced to 92 months in jail and then accepted back into Canada. According to the RCMP- Eastern Region, the accused “allegedly told a worker at the Old Brewery Mission that he intended to commit an attack with the goal of killing a large number of people.

“Montreal Police Service (SPVM) officers responded quickly to the report. The SPVM immediately informed the RCMP of this incident, after which the investigation was taken over by the RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team.”

According to the United States Department of Justice, Warsame was arrested in 2003 and sentenced to 92 months in jail and three years of supervised release in federal court in 2009 for “conspiring to provide material support and resources to al-Qaeda.”

Warsame had met Bin Laden before the 9/11 attacks. According to various sources, Warsame emigrated to Canada in 1989 and married an American woman from Minnesota in an arranged marriage, during which he still lived in Toronto and visited her periodically. He then went to Afghanistan in 2000, attracted by what he considered to be a utopian society. n

Montreal man linked to Bin Laden arrested for uttering threats Read More »

CSLDS’s The Wizard of Oz an enchanting delight

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

I saw the Côte St. Luc Dramatic Society’s latest production of The Wizard of Oz on its opening night Saturday May 31 and it was a most enjoyable experience.

The production came up with interesting methods for the parts of the 1939 colour movie classic that included special effects. The cast, led by Sophie Eiser as Dorothy as part of Cast A (there are two sets of casts) and including Mayor Mitchell Brownstein as the Wizard and his brother Herb as Uncle Henry, was delightful. Some of the cast, particularly the Cowardly Lion (James Alloul), the Tinman (Jonah Zoldan) and the Scarecrow (Dawson Barman-Tao), not only resembled the original actors, but all offered a mix of 1930s style movie dialogue inflections and some clever and humorous added lines of a more modern nature. The many musical numbers were delightful as well.

As director Anisa Cameron pointed out to us in a recent interview, the play reinstated the Jitterbug sequence that was cut out of the 1939 movie, and it was fun and jazzy. Fun applies to the production as a whole.

The CSLDS production runs until June 15 and can be seen at the Harold Greenspon Auditorium at the Bernard Lang Civic Centre. For more information and for tickets, go to www.csldramaticsociety.com.

CSLDS’s The Wizard of Oz an enchanting delight Read More »

New Bill 96 signage, packaging laws now in effect

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Bill 96, now Law 14, French-language provisions regarding commercial signs and packaging are now in effect.The provisions include:

• “A business name that contains a specific (store name) in a language other than French and that appears in a display visible from outside a premises must be accompanied by terms in French – such as a generic, a description or a slogan – that will ensure a clear predominance of French. The same applies to a recognized trademark that is entirely or partially in a language other than French and that appears in a display visible from outside a premises. A display visible from outside a premises is a display that can be seen: from outside a space, whether enclosed or not; · on a building or group of buildings; · inside a shopping centre; ·on a terminal or any other independent structure, including a pylon sign.”

The Quebec government has provided examples of what does and does not comply with the new provisions — the description of the enterprise and its English name cannot be equal in size, the description can be larger than the store name, the store name can be the same size as the French descriptor and a French slogan; and several French descriptors can be the same size as the English store name.

• “Trademarks may be written in whole or in part only in a language other than French if no French version of these trademarks has been registered with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO). If there is a French version of the trademark registered with CIPO, this French version must be displayed both inside and outside premises. A business that displays the French version of its business name or trademark and the version in a language other than French at the same time must ensure that, in the same field of vision, the rule of clear predominance of French is respected throughout the display.”

• The government further explains that the clear predominance of French is not required in the display of a business name or trademark when this display is “inside a premises and cannot be seen from the outside; is on a vehicle; is on a terminal or any other independent structure, including a pylon sign type, which includes more than two business names or trademarks. However, the business name must always be accompanied by a generic term in French.”

In terms of products, such descriptors as ingredients, colour, fragrances “must also appear in French on the product or on a medium permanently associated with it. The name under which the product is marketed and the name of the company may remain only in another language.” From what we’ve seen, most products sold in Canadian stores have bilingual descriptions.

• There is also a two-year transition period: “Until June 1, 2027, a product bearing a trademark that contains a generic or descriptive term only in a language other than French, or that contains a generic or descriptive term only part of which is only in a language other than French, may be marketed if it: was manufactured before June 1, 2025, and no French version of the trademark has been filed as of June 26, 2024; or was manufactured between June 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025, and is subject to the new labelling standards set out in the Regulations Amending the Food and Drug Regulations.”

Fines range from $3,000 to $30,000 a day of there is non-compliance after a written warning from the OQLF to follow the law. n

New Bill 96 signage, packaging laws now in effect Read More »

Ex-Mayor removed by police after Hampstead council disruption

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi had the SPVM expel former Mayor William Steinberg from the June 9 council meeting following a fractious debate between the two men over reimbursed expenses for hotel stays during conferences and council salaries.

“I hereby order you to leave these premises at once,” Levi told Steinberg.

Steinberg, who was accused by a member of the audience of violating council meeting decorum rules that he himself enforced, had declined to depart from the microphone after approaching it a second time. Levi had told Steinberg to wait for the second question period at the end of the agenda, but the former mayor remained at the microphone. A lengthy recess then took place.

(According to Article 12 of the town’s Bylaw 740, if a resident insists on speaking “without being granted the floor,” this may “justify the expulsion from the meeting by order of the Chairperson (Mayor).” Levi told The Suburban this bylaw was adopted by Steinberg and council and “I was enforcing his own rules.)

“This is exactly what I told everyone you would do,” Steinberg told Levi after officers entered the council chamber. The police then escorted Steinberg outside the Adessky Community Centre, where they told him he committed no crime but had to stay out of the council meeting.

During the meeting, Steinberg brought up pre-2024 allegations he posted at billsteinberg.ca, including a salary hike of 40.5 percent for councillors, Levi staying at a $900 per night hotel in Dallas, Texas during a conference and councillors travelling outside Canada to various locales for conferences.

Regarding councillors’ salaries, Levi responded that his predecessor (Steinberg) “erroneously advised council that the mayor’s salary had to have been three times the councillors’ salary. We looked into that and that was never the case. I looked at the amount of work that council puts in — this is not just about showing up to a council meeting. You know better than anyone else the amount of work involved.They deserve every single dollar.”

Steinberg countered that the salary difference between mayors and councillors is the norm, but not a rule.

Steinberg added, “We kept the salaries in line with the size of the town. [The councillors] conned you, Mr. Mayor, because of their greed, and you fell for it! Many residents want the councillors to pay back the money!”

As for the Dallas hotel stay, Levi said the Omni was the hotel of the conference, and that he did not book it. The hotel was $480 US a night, plus taxes.

Levi then countered with his own allegations about Steinberg’s own reimbursed expenses, including mileage. The former Mayor told The Suburban the mileage figures came from driving to agglomeration meetings and conferences in Canada.

Following Steinberg’s departure, Levi said slanderous accusations were made against the council, and that the items at billsteinberg.ca were incorrect. One audience member interrupted, calling the council “crooks”.

“Some of these councillors use their personal vacation time from their full-time employment [to attend conferences],” Levi said. “They are in constant communication [with the town] when they are away on personal vacations.”

Levi added that what happened at the meeting was “very unfortunate.This is not the way to address concerns about the allocation of resources. There is a proper way to ask questions, and it was not adhered to at all.”

Levi added that “there were accusations against me that I should reimburse the town. I haven’t taken a single dollar. Thank God I’m financially stable, I don’t need the town to pay for anything, certainly not to travel away from my family so that I can bring back better insights and resources to better serve the town. Every single dollar I’ve been paid as Mayor, I have donated to local charities. I take nothing from this town!” n

Ex-Mayor removed by police after Hampstead council disruption Read More »

The Beach Boys come to the West Island

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

2025 is a year of milestones for the Beach Boys. It is the 60th anniversary of three of their landmark albums — Today!, Summer Days (And Summer Nights!) and Party!, and the standalone single The Little Girl I Once Knew.

But this past Feb. 19 also marked the 60th anniversary of the group’s first concert in Montreal, at the Maurice Richard Arena, where, according to the book The Beach Boys in Concert by Ian Rusten and Jon Stebbins, the show turned into a near riot as fans tried to mob the stage, while drummer Dennis Wilson “barely made it to his dressing room with his hair intact.”

Lead singer Mike Love, 84, in a phone interview with The Suburban last week, didn’t specifically remember that concert — he’s performed thousands of them for more than 60 years, after all. But he did say that he very much enjoys visiting and performing in Montreal.

“I remember Montreal being a fantastic city, the province of Quebec in general, Quebec City. In Montreal, I especially like the architecture, the fact it’s heavily influenced by France, in fact, there’s some areas of Montreal where you’ll never see English. It’s fascinating — like going to Europe, but a lot closer.”

Love said a lot of audiences were indeed wild in the early to-mid-1960s, and he expects a much calmer show than the one in 1965, when the Beach Boys perform June 21 at the annual Strangers in the Night gala, which is marking its 20th year, at Complexe Pointe Claire. Also performing are The Damn Truth and Exodus. The event raises funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to critically ill children, as well as the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation and the West Island Women’s Shelter.

Love points out that “we’ve done Make-A-Wish Foundation concerts many, many times, and we like it when our celebrity helps raise money and awareness for philanthropic groups, so it will be a really nice evening. I think it’s great if people turn out and support the Make-A-Wish Foundation.”

In terms of milestones, we also mentioned that this past April marked the 60th anniversary of Bruce Johnston joining the Beach Boys. Johnston, following a brief stint by Glen Campbell, replaced Brian Wilson, who stopped regular touring with the band in late 1964. Love and Johnston, with a wonderful band, tour as the Beach Boys nowadays — I saw this edition of the band in 2001, 2016 and 2018, and all the shows were superb.

“Bruce has been great,” Love says. “He has a Grammy for writing I Write the Songs, made famous by Barry Manilow. He’s been behind the scenes on a lot of songs — he got me working with Terry Melcher and we did Kokomo, which went to #1 and is probably our biggest selling single ever, and definitely the biggest singalong in our show. He’s been a good influence all along.”

At the time we spoke, Love was a week away from the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York City, where he is being honoured for writing the lyrics of such timeless classics as California Girls, Good Vibrations, the gorgeous The Warmth of the Sun and many others.

“I join so many great artists who contributed so much to our musical culture. It’s a great honour to have my contributions to the Beach Boys recognized, finally.”

For more information on the Strangers in the Night gala, go to strangersinthenight.ca. For more of the musical aspects of our interview with Mike Love, that will be in an upcoming Retro Roundup. n

The Beach Boys come to the West Island Read More »

Montreal community embraces parents of slain Israeli hostage

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Federation CJA’s closing event of its 2024-2025 All In Campaign featured Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, an Israeli-American who was kidnapped by Hamas Oct. 7, 2023 and slain with five other captives by the terrorist group around Aug. 31, 2024.

The event also featured Israeli Consul-General Paul Hirschson and touching musical performances by Israeli singer Michal Greenglick, whose brother Shauli was killed in combat in Gaza in December 2023; and Arab-Israeli singer and actress Valerie Hamaty. Also in attendance were Raquel and Alain Look, parents of former Côte St. Luc resident Alexandre Look, who died while defending others at the Nova music festival Oct. 7. Goldberg-Polin was kidnapped from the festival, where hundreds of young people were killed.

Hirschson expressed to the full house at the Gelber Centre, in one of his last public appearances before returning to Israel, his appreciation of the Montreal Jewish community.

“There isn’t another Jewish community in the world which is as engaged with Israel as you are,” he said. “I want to take the opportunity to say thank you.”

Moderator Lisa Singer Miller, a Federation CJA volunteer, asked Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, who recounted fond memories of their son, what the Montreal community could do to bolster them in Israel.

Jon Polin said that “we all know there are challenging times right now.

“But we are 15 million Jews globally in a world of eight and a half billion people. So yes, we should try to fight narratives, and to fight the online battle, but it’s really hard. What we can control is to flood the world with our goodness and if the world wants to embrace us for contributing the best technology and the best medicine and the best legal and academic minds, and on and on and on, then great. And if they don’t, we’re going to keep doing that stuff anyway!….Let’s just be proud!

Rachel Goldberg-Polin, asked to provide a memory of Hersh, said she had to “learn to feel someone in a different way. I very much feel Hersh all the time. I even stop during the day and say “Hersh, are you here?’ and I say to myself, ‘I’m here, Mama.’

“For me, something I think about — I had a son and I loved him, and he knew it. And he loved me, and I knew it. I was blessed, and I am blessed.” n

Montreal community embraces parents of slain Israeli hostage Read More »

Gen. Rick Hillier says, “We are lions led by sheep!”

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Retired Canadian Forces General Rick Hillier, former Chief of Defence Staff, took Canadian politicians to severe task last week for their tepid response to the rise of anti-Israel protests and antisemitic incidents since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.

“We are lions led by sheep!” he said. “And it’s time that we are lions led by lions! And we need your help and the help of the vast majority of Canadians to do it!”

General Hillier was the keynote speaker May 27 at a very well attended Beyond the 7th: Stronger Together fundraising event held at the Chevra Kadisha Synagogue in Snowdon by Beit Halochem Canada, the organization which provides aid for wounded, physically and emotionally, veterans and victims of terror. Côte St. Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, Hampstead councillor Jack Edery and Federation CJA president and CEO Yair Szlak were amongst the attendees.

Audience members heard gut-wrenching and inspiring in-person and video testimony from veterans who had been severely wounded during the Hamas terrorist attack and in battles against Hamas and Hezbollah afterwards, and were helped by Beit Halochem in their recovery. There were also stirring musical performances by Or Cohen, Chen Danino and Liad Grushka.

Gen. Hillier told the audience that while Canada may be in an economic conflict with the Trump administration, the Canada-U.S. relationship must ultimately be settled.

“Because in this unsettled domain, Team Hamas appears, and the hatred they have is expressed openly!” he added. “Demonstrations have been shutting down our cities, and our residential area like this tonight, and our universities! We’ve had attacks on your schools and synagogues, and businesses, and that racism is in the open!”

Gen. Hiller emphasized that Canada’s political leaders “have largely failed us in being able to constrain that antisemitism and hatred.

“I refuse to let them get away with that in silence! If Black Canadians were prevented from going onto the campus of Concordia University, or openly gay people were prevented from crossing into a mall in downtown Toronto, our political leaders would be there in a heartbeat! They would have been on bended knee and changed the laws if needed and we would have had those issues resolved. They need to do the same for antisemitism!”

Hiller said Canadians have to speak up, “to denounce the hatred!

“I believe firmly that the majority of Canadians detest what is going on…but they are silent! We need them to demand leadership from those we elect to lead! Write them, email them, phone them! Go visit their Parliamentary offices and let them know! Participate in demonstrations!”

Hillier also said governments and police forces have to enforce the laws “we already have on the books.

“We don’t need new laws! We need the police force in Montreal, in Toronto, in Ottawa to enforce the laws, stop the hate rallies and allow Canadians to live a life of security that we all want! We also want to make sure that every one of 400,000 Jewish Canadians are treated just like every other single Canadian!”

The veterans who spoke and whose stories were seen on video included Eden Ram, who was hit by 12 bullets when her base was overrun by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7 — she was one of two survivors of the onslaught; Evyatar Edri, a police officer who helped rescue his parents on Oct. 7 and who now suffers from PTSD, and who was accompanied by his mother Rachel, who fed cookies to the terrorists as a means of staying alive; Jonathan Pinto, who was blinded as he helped prevent Hamas from entering Kibbutz Nirim on Oct. 7; Liam Shpilman, who was very badly wounded by the terrorist group Hezbollah and had to endure dozens of surgeries; and Yonti Bahat, who was badly wounded in Gaza and was rescued by a paramedic he personally trained.

Ram told the audience that “what separates us from those who wanted to murder us is this — from first grade, I was taught to respect every human being, to reach out for peace!

“But Hamas and Hezbollah teach their children from first grade to kill Jews, to become shahids, those who murder and are celebrated as heroes when they ascend to Heaven!”

Edri said those protesting outside the synagogue and their ilk “will not stop us, and they will not break us!” Loud applause followed. Those outside protesting “cannot bury our truth!” said Rabbi Asher Jacobson.

After the event, security guided attendees how to exit the synagogue, as there were three groups of anti-Israel protesters in the area who yelled obscenities and made hateful statements. The SPVM, which set up a perimeter on Clanranald and part of Isabella, and private security held the protesters at bay. n

Gen. Rick Hillier says, “We are lions led by sheep!” Read More »

SPVM arrests five in seniors distraction theft scheme

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The SPVM arrested five people in connection with a series of crimes involving perpetrators distracting unsuspecting people and stealing items like jewellery in the process.

The Suburban recently reported on a Côte St. Luc senior couple who were distracted by an alleged couple, one of whom asked for directions to an Arab supermarket and the other asked a man to pray with her and while doing so stole his Rolex, replacing it with a cheap watch. Other such crimes have been reported in the west end and West Island.

The SPVM announced that it had arrested five suspects who were “allegedly involved in several diversion thefts committed in Montreal and its surrounding areas in recent weeks. The suspects allegedly took advantage of the vulnerability of seniors to steal jewelry they were wearing.”

The Montreal police’s statement added that its West Project Investigation Section “also conducted a search of a residence in St. Hubert and seized three vehicles.The suspects arrested are two women aged 36 and 37, and three men aged 34, 39, and 45. Three of them appeared at the Montreal courthouse and face charges of theft under $5,000. The other two were released on a promise to appear at a later date, with conditions to be met.”

The general scheme, which had variations, was that the perpetrators used false pretences to approach a victim, and then offered the victim a gift as a token of appreciation, such as a worthless necklace or ring. During their interactions with the victim, they approached her to have her try on the gift and took the opportunity to steal one or more pieces of valuable jewelry worn by the victim. They then left the scene in a vehicle driven by an accomplice. It was only moments later that the victim realized what had just happened.

The SPVM offered prevention tips, including “if you are a senior, don’t let anyone into your inner circle and be vigilant. Always be on your guard, even when the stranger approaching you is a woman. Also, refuse any gifts offered to you. If possible, travel in groups and hide any valuable jewelry before arriving at your destination.”

The investigation into the distraction crimes is ongoing, “considering the possibility of similar unreported thefts.Anyone with information is encouraged to contact 911 or their local police station. You can also contact Info-Crime Montreal anonymously and confidentially at 514-393-1133 or via the reporting form available on infocrimemontreal.ca.” n

SPVM arrests five in seniors distraction theft scheme Read More »

Bill 96 has reduced hiring of English-speakers

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

A Léger survey commissioned by the Advisory Committee for English-speaking Quebecers (CCQEA) found that out of a perceived fear of non-compliance with language law Bill 96 (Law 14), a third of Quebec employers polled have changed their hiring practices, including reducing or halting the hiring of English speakers.

Amongst other provisions, Bill 96 demands that companies with 25 to 49 employees be subject to Bill 101’s francization process — including reporting on the extent of French used in the workplace — and must register with the OQLF. Previously, this provision applied to companies with 50 or more employees. The adjustment period for the expanded category of companies to comply ended on Sunday, June 1.

The CCQEA says that 500 Quebec employers were surveyed from Nov. 20 to Dec. 1, 2024, and that the results “builds on [our] previous research showing that English speakers in Quebec face greater labour market vulnerability, including higher unemployment and lower incomes, than their French-speaking counterparts.

“One in five employers now express concern about hiring English speakers. More than one in 10 have pulled back on retention of English speakers or even let them go, citing compliance concerns and risk of penalties.”

(Similarly, in terms of caution, many stores decline to place English on their signage, even though it is allowed as long as French is markedly predominant.)

“Employers need clarity and support in navigating these requirements and right now, they’re pulling back out of caution — that’s a missed opportunity.” says CCQEA President John Buck.

Buck added that few employers are aware of government-funded francization programs that would ensure compliance with the law.

“Employers often aren’t aware of those that do exist, or aren’t sufficiently supported in implementing them. There’s real potential for workforce growth that we’re not realizing. We’re seeing signals of demand and willingness on both sides, but we currently risk sidelining qualified talent that could contribute meaningfully to Quebec’s economy.”

Some other findings of the survey:

• Forty-five percent of the companies surveyed never hired an English-speaking employee, including 52 percent of francophone companies, 82 percent of companies in the Quebec City area and 56 percent of companies outside the Greater Montreal and Quebec City areas.

• On the other hand, 88 percent of English-speaking companies hire anglophones more often, as do 74 percent of bilingual companies and 70 percent in the Greater Montreal area.

• Because of perceptions about Law 14, eight percent of the companies surveyed no longer hire anglophones, 10 percent hire fewer anglophones, 14 percent are more cautious but still hire anglophones, and 49 percent have not changed their anglophone hiring practices. The rest either never hire anglophones or did not respond. nA Léger survey commissioned by the Advisory Committee for English-speaking Quebecers (CCQEA) found that out of a perceived fear of non-compliance with language law Bill 96 (Law 14), a third of Quebec employers polled have changed their hiring practices, including reducing or halting the hiring of English speakers.

Amongst other provisions, Bill 96 demands that companies with 25 to 49 employees be subject to Bill 101’s francization process — including reporting on the extent of French used in the workplace — and must register with the OQLF. Previously, this provision applied to companies with 50 or more employees. The adjustment period for the expanded category of companies to comply ended on Sunday, June 1.

The CCQEA says that 500 Quebec employers were surveyed from Nov. 20 to Dec. 1, 2024, and that the results “builds on [our] previous research showing that English speakers in Quebec face greater labour market vulnerability, including higher unemployment and lower incomes, than their French-speaking counterparts.

“One in five employers now express concern about hiring English speakers. More than one in 10 have pulled back on retention of English speakers or even let them go, citing compliance concerns and risk of penalties.”

(Similarly, in terms of caution, many stores decline to place English on their signage, even though it is allowed as long as French is markedly predominant.)

“Employers need clarity and support in navigating these requirements and right now, they’re pulling back out of caution — that’s a missed opportunity.” says CCQEA President John Buck.

Buck added that few employers are aware of government-funded francization programs that would ensure compliance with the law.

“Employers often aren’t aware of those that do exist, or aren’t sufficiently supported in implementing them. There’s real potential for workforce growth that we’re not realizing. We’re seeing signals of demand and willingness on both sides, but we currently risk sidelining qualified talent that could contribute meaningfully to Quebec’s economy.”

Some other findings of the survey:

• Forty-five percent of the companies surveyed never hired an English-speaking employee, including 52 percent of francophone companies, 82 percent of companies in the Quebec City area and 56 percent of companies outside the Greater Montreal and Quebec City areas.

• On the other hand, 88 percent of English-speaking companies hire anglophones more often, as do 74 percent of bilingual companies and 70 percent in the Greater Montreal area.

• Because of perceptions about Law 14, eight percent of the companies surveyed no longer hire anglophones, 10 percent hire fewer anglophones, 14 percent are more cautious but still hire anglophones, and 49 percent have not changed their anglophone hiring practices. The rest either never hire anglophones or did not respond. n

Bill 96 has reduced hiring of English-speakers Read More »

Court says CSL SAQ did not accuse customer of theft

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Small Claims Court Judge Brigitte Gouin ruled recently that employees of the Société des Alcools du Québec store in the Côte St. Luc Shopping Centre in CSL did not accuse a customer of theft.

Allan Barbarush sued the SAQ for $15,000, claiming that on March 30, 2023, while looking for a particular brand of wine and not finding it, he decided to leave the store. The customer claimed he was then “verbally assaulted and humiliated” by two employees, who he said accused him, in front of members of the public, of theft.

The plaintiff said police were called, surveillance footage was reviewed and no evidence of theft was discovered.

The SAQ countered that according to store manager Ana Bertha Gallegos Barcenas and cashier Paula Soto, the plaintiff entered the store with a grocery bag behind his back and Barcenas “had reasonable grounds to believe that Barbarush had left the branch with an unpaid item.”

The defendant’s witnesses said the conversation only involved the plaintiff being asked if he forgot to pay for an item, took place for a short period of time, four members of the public were likely out of earshot of the exchange and “there was no public demonstration of humiliation—quite the contrary.”

Barcenas testified that “in my work, I have frequently seen customers leave a branch without paying for the products they were carrying in a moment of distraction, without necessarily intending to steal them. For this reason, I asked the applicant if he had forgotten to do so (pay).

“In response to my question, the [plaintiff] hesitated and stammered before replying, ‘Are you imbeciles or what?’, without ever answering the question.”

The judge agreed with the SAQ employees’ version of events, adding that the plaintiff “was free to leave the premises without hindrance or further intervention.

“The employees also did not request to search his bag, which he was holding when he left the store. It was the plaintiff himself who returned to the defendant’s branch a second time, going to the manager’s office to have a heated conversation about the previous exchange. He left the premises shortly afterward without further intervention from the defendant. The plaintiff then returned to the branch a third time to have another heated conversation with the manager, and during this exchange, he decided to call the SPVM himself.”

The judge added that the plaintiff had the burden of proof in regards to any fault by the SAQ.

“As appears from the evidence presented, the exchange in the mall aisle was brief, only one question was asked in a tone devoid of any aggression, and no accusations of theft were made against the plaintiff. It was also demonstrated, as appears from the testimonies of Soto and Barcenas, that they acted on the basis of objective facts linked to the plaintiff’s behaviour, including successive handling of several bottles in the presence of a half-open bag, his brief presence in the branch and leaving without purchase.”

For these reasons, the judge ruled in favor of the SAQ. n

Court says CSL SAQ did not accuse customer of theft Read More »

The Shaar unites Montrealers in vigil for slain Israeli diplomats

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Montrealers turned out in large numbers outside the Israeli consulate at Westmount Square Thursday to mourn victims of terrorism Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who both worked for the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C.

The two were killed, allegedly by 31-year-old pro-Palestinian radical Elias Rodriguez, Wednesday night as they left a Jewish event held in Washington. The two victims were about to be engaged to be married.

The vigil in Westmount, organized by Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, had been quickly organized and successfully drowned out less than a half-dozen anti-Israel protesters who were moved from the event area by the SPVM.

Before the vigil, Israeli Consul-General Paul Hirschson told The Suburban that May 21 was a “terrible day for the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

“For over 20 years, we didn’t lose anybody. Now we lost two people on the same night.”

Hirschson also advised the Montreal community to “be aware, be on guard, see what’s going on around you.

“We lower our heads in mourning and sadness, but we hold our heads up high in pride with the fact we know we’re on the right side of history!”

Rabbi Adam Scheier of Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue and Rabbi Reuben Poupko of Beth Israel Beth Aaron Synagogue both said the killing came as no surprise.

“We’re here in anger, sadness and pain!” Rabbi Scheier said. “This young couple was on the cusp of a life together, of building a family and a home! These were beautiful souls who dreamed about peace and hope for everyone! These were peacemakers slaughtered in cold blood!”

The Rabbi added that “no one can say we didn’t see this coming!

“It’s not a surprise when we stand in this very place, where the [anti-Israel protesters] continue to yell slogans of hatred, genocidal slogans, wishing the destruction of another people!…Shame, shame on them!”

“Shame, shame!” the vigil attendees yelled at the nearby protesters.

Rabbi Poupko asked how anyone could be surprised at the murders “after 19 months of listening to murderous chants across North America, on every campus and in every city!

“We told you for months that those chants are calls for violence. That ‘free Palestine!’ means a country free of its Jews, it means ‘kill the Jews’; ‘globalizing Intifada’ means kill the Jews and, on Wednesday night, that man proved it!

The Rabbi added angrily, “we’ve told you, Montreal, for 20 months now, what those chants mean!

“We told the Mayor, who hasn’t listened to a word! We told the Mayor, protect your city! And she sits in her office and does nothing!”

Rabbi Poupko also criticized Prime Minister Mark Carney, who recently joined France’s Emmanuel Macron and Britain’s Keir Starmer in a one-sided statement against Israel.

“We have a Prime Minister who doesn’t have the right to say the words ‘State of Israel’! One word to the Prime Minister of Canada! Stop talking! You’re not hurting us, you’re bringing shame and dishonour to Canada when you open your mouth!”

Rabbi Poupko also asked the protesters where Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist leaders who attacked Israel are now.

“You want to know where they are?! Check your pagers!”

The Rabbi said those who support Israel “know what we stand for!

“We’ve heard the howls of the hatred, of the jackals and you know what, we’re still here!”

Concordia student Ashley Steinwald slammed the media for its coverage of Israel, especially since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.

The murders “are what antisemitism looks like in 2025!” she said.

“And it’s not just coming from extremists! It’s coming from our streets, our schools, our so-called institutions of higher learning and every media outlet that chooses to twist the truth instead of telling it! We got here because the media spent the last seven months and honestly the last 75 years spreading lies about Israel and the Jews! The consequences are fatal! Libellous propaganda is not just words, it is bullets!”

The vigil also included songs sung by Nathaniel Abitbol and prayers sung by Cantor Yitzhak Epstein. n

The Shaar unites Montrealers in vigil for slain Israeli diplomats Read More »

Young writers recognized at CSL Margles contest

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The second annual Roslyn and Max Margles Young Writers Contest, honouring aspiring authors and presented by the Côte Saint-Luc Public Library and the Quebec Writers’ Federation (QWF), was held recently at Côte St. Luc’s Aquatic and Community Centre.

In 2022, the Max Margles Children’s Library at the Bernard Lang Civic Centre was inaugurated, following a $500,000 donation by his wife Roslyn Margles for children’s library programming.

On hand for this year’s event were Roslyn Margles, Mayor Mitchell Brownstein and councillors Mike Cohen and Dida Berku, CSL Public Library director Janine West, CSL children’s librarian Bronwen Cathey, Lori Schubert of the QWF; and, back this year, contest judges Marie Louise Gay, a children’s book writer and illustrator from Montreal; Anne Renaud, a children’s author who writes in English and French; and Paul (P.J.) Bracegirdle, a Montreal-based writer and artist.

West told the very well attended event that her own children grew up participating in the McIntyre writing contest, inspired by former Westmount Mayor Peter McIntyre.

“It has been my dream to bring something similar to CSL and finally it has become a reality,” she added.

Brownstein said he hopes the contest will “be the beginning of a longstanding CSL tradition and…every year we gather like this to celebrate and reward their efforts.

“To our young authors, each of you has brought your stories to life with heart, humour and originality, and that’s something truly special.”

Cohen, who has the library portfolio on council, pointed out Margles’ contribution to the library, $500,000, was the “largest donation in the history of our community.

“Not only is she a donor, but she’s a doer, very involved in our library, very involved in our programming.”

Margles herself said she was happy there were so many participants in the contest.

“Regarding my donation, I had a stipulation, that the library was to establish a Young Writers Contest — that’s how important it was to me.”

The top winners in the Grades 3 and 4 category were :

• In first place, Matti Gonzalez-Idan for L’Aventure de Draven, praised as a “highly creative story full of humour, imagination and clever wordplay.”

• In second place, Sarah Israel and Adèle Mechache for Le club du journal, praised as “an imaginative and well-structured story with strong character development.”

Honourable mentions went to Madison Rappaport for Stowaway Cat; Cordelia Carrier-Sydor for Bluebell’s Challenge, the sequel to last year’s first place-winning story, Bluebell’s Problem; and Jacob Segal for L’aventure de Rob.

The Grades 5 and 6 winners were:

• In first place, Aderes Zigman for The Naked Cupcake, praised as a “joyful, creative and whimsical story that cleverly plays with perspective and self-image.”

• In second place, Anastasia Maria Ion for Les Aventures de Sophie, praised as a “story magnificently written and well structured with a rich vocabulary and an endearing heroine.”

• Honourable mentions went to Naveen Dosaj for The Gold Medal Game, second-time winner Izzy Druckman for the biography Sheldon Rubin and Nona Morakabaty for Natation avec nations. n

Young writers recognized at CSL Margles contest Read More »

Local leaders urge Canada to seek IHRA presidency

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Numerous political and community leaders from Montreal and the rest of Canada have signed onto a letter by United Against Hate Canada’s Marvin Rotrand urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to have Canada seek the presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance for 2027 or 2028.

Numerous countries, provinces and cities, though not Montreal, have signed on to the IHRA’s definition of antisemitism. Israel currently holds the presidency of the IHRA until Feb. 26, 2026, followed by Argentina until the end of February 2027.

Some of the notable local signatories to the UAH letter include Rotrand himself, former MPs Marlene Jennings and Frank Baylis, Côte St. Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, Kirkland Mayor Michel Gibson, CDN-NDG councillor Sonny Moroz, English Montreal School Board chairman Joe Ortona and EMSB commissioner Julien Feldman; CJAD broadcasters Andrew Carter, Elias Makos and Aaron Rand, and many others.

The letter from UHA Canada asks Carney, during the June 23 IHRA plenary session in Jerusalem, to “mandate our delegation to alert the plenary of Canada’s desire to seek the Presidency of IHRA for 2027 or 2028.”

The letter adds that the Canadian government’s recent National Forum to Combat Antisemitism was a “welcome reaction to an unprecedented wave of antisemitism that Canada has witnessed over the last 18 months.”

Rotrand’s letter also noted Carney’s campaign promise to “fight the horrifying rise in hate and protect our communities, including by increasing funding to the Canada Community Security Program and introducing legislation to make it a criminal offence to intentionally and willfully obstruct access to any place of worship, schools, and community centres; and a criminal offence to willfully intimidate or threaten those attending services at these locations.”

While UAH welcomed these promised measures, the organization and the letter’s signatories added that it believes “they can be reinforced by strengthening Canada’s presence within IHRA and launching the process to ultimately obtain the Presidency.

‘We strongly believe that having Canada act as Chair will aid stakeholders in our country to significantly advance Holocaust remembrance, combat Holocaust denial and distortion while building effective tools to blunt the unprecedented wave of hate targeting Jews in Canada.”

Canada making its interest known “in obtaining the Presidency known at this June’s plenary is an important step,” the signatories wrote.

“Canada must build a bid that will win the confidence of IHRA’s members so that when the plenary next year chooses the presiding nations for 2027 and 2028, we will be solidly in the running. Making known the support of civil society for this proposal can only help to move it forward. Announcing our intentions this June alerts the world that we will do whatever it takes to blunt antisemitism.” n

Local leaders urge Canada to seek IHRA presidency Read More »

Ville St. Laurent parking issue erupts again

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The issue of parking restrictions installed in the last couple of years in St. Laurent reared its head again at the May council meeting, with some pleas and colourful language from residents of the Satim group of streets.

The no parking rule in the area applies for eight hours each on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from April 1 to Dec. 1.

Samuel Feldman said he and other residents are very unhappy with the parking signs that were installed. He and his father Nicholas presented an 80-name petition objecting to the signage.

“This is a quiet, residential, pedestrian, low traffic neighbourhood,” Samuel pointed out. “The signs have caused complete undue burden on all of our residents. We keep getting tickets and have to remind ourselves to move our cars across the street. It’s become a disaster at this point. This seems like an arbitrary, disguised law to give us tickets as a punitive measure.”

Mayor Alan DeSousa said the measure was not meant to be punitive, and is to allow for street cleaning. Feldman added that the street cleaners are not always present on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Councillor Vana Nazarian later confirmed that the area previously had no signage.

“It’s just tickets after tickets! It’s doing more harm than good,” Samuel said.

DeSousa said the rule is not only for street cleaning, but for work Hydro Québec or Energir may have to do.

“The alternative would have been to squeeze you even more by putting alternative parking there, where you would have one side of the street every day where there would be completely no parking, the way it is on my street, on St. Germain.”

Nicholas Feldman was angrier, saying the street was built in the mid-1980s “and there were never any street signs there.

“Carré Satim is a dead end street! Nobody goes there unless you live there!….It was a beautiful street, now you have posts every 15 feet! It looks so ugly! It’s awful! This is not NDG or Thimens! You polluted the area with these metal posts! It’s never been like that in 40 years! All of a sudden we have these great ideas to make people miserable! Everybody signed the petition — they’re all pissed off at you! What’s going on here?!….I’m getting tickets right, left and centre!”

DeSousa said the borough is not trying to disfigure the Satim area.

“We had a choice as to what is the appropriate markings so that people know” the rules, the Mayor added.

“People are very angry with you, including me!” Nicholas Feldman said.

“That was not the intent,” DeSousa said. “Wherever you live in St. Laurent, there are rules with regards to public parking.”

Nazarian said she welcomed the petition.

“We have a responsibility to look at it, to consider it and to try to find solutions, if we are able to do it. There are some areas where we were able to make some changes, and others we weren’t able, but now that you’ve brought it up in person and brought a petition, our staff will consider it.” n

Ville St. Laurent parking issue erupts again Read More »

Antisemitic posts by Quebec med school applicants taken down

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By: Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Antisemitic, misogynistic and racist social media posts by Quebec medical school applicants were taken down last week by the Discord platform, not long after B’nai Brith Canada and a local doctor’s associations revealed and objected to their content.

Discord says it takes down hateful content. Discord has also been the subject of a lawsuit by the New Jersey attorney general, which alleged the platform “recklessly exposes children to graphic violent content, sexual abuse and exploitation,” The New York Times reported late last month. The company disputes that lawsuit’s claims, saying Discord’s tools make the site safer.

As reported this week by The Suburban, B’nai Brith Canada revealed May 8 that the public Discord server called Med serveur on the Internet had become a “cesspool of antisemitism, racism, misogyny, and hate. The medical students have since switched to the Discord server ADMISSION MED QC 2024.

“For months, a number of aspiring doctors openly posted Holocaust denial, praise for the ‘Final Solution,’ hurled racial slurs, glorified terrorism, and degraded women,” B’nai Brith officials said. “This content wasn’t buried. It was shared in open channels, visible to over 1,400 members. Almost no one spoke up. These aren’t anonymous trolls. They are future doctors. And this kind of hate doesn’t stay online. It follows them into classrooms, clinics, and operating rooms.”

B’ani Brith Canada added that “silence enables this rot to spread. Institutions must act—now. Hate like this has no place in healthcare—or anywhere in Canadian society.”

Some of the offending posts included “the Islamic State of Quebec,” “they are just Negroes”, “imagine a woman under antidepressant and f–king Ritalin who [performs?] surgery on you. She’ll vomit mid-surgery because it’s ‘too stressful’ and she needs a ‘mental health break’” and “Don’t worry. You can trust me as long as you don’t have kippa under your wig.” There were also cartoon depictions of Jews reminiscent of those in the Nazi publication Der Sturmer.

Lior Bibas of the Association of Jewish Doctors of Quebec stated after he learned of the existence of the posts, “If these accounts are really from future physicians, we need an immediate investigation to identify those responsible and ensure they are not admitted to our medical schools or allowed to practice medicine. It is essential that the institutions involved act swiftly, transparently, and decisively to restore public trust.”

A 106-page report that circulated amongst Jewish doctors alleged that at least one Dawson College student and a current Quebec medical student posted some of the messages. The Dawson administration is reportedly looking into the matter. Quebec Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry’s office also denounced the posts. n

Antisemitic posts by Quebec med school applicants taken down Read More »

Holocaust education more essential than ever says survivor

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Educating Quebec students about the Holocaust is even more essential in the context of surging global antisemitism, said Holocaust survivor Eva Kuper, member of a recent panel on Holocaust education.

The panel discussion at the Gelber Centre was moderated and organized by D’Arcy McGee MNA Elisabeth Prass, along with the Jewish Public Library, and featured Kuper, also a Montreal Holocaust Museum associate; Foundation for Genocide Education communications director Marcy Bruck and Montreal Holocaust Museum assistant executive director Audrey Licop. Also on hand were English Montreal School Board chairman Joe Ortona and commissioner Julien Feldman.

Kuper said Holocaust education is “that much more urgent” now.

“It’s not only to explain and teach about the Holocaust, but it’s very urgent to look at the contemporary issues that we’re dealing with today and to, maybe not compare them, but juxtapose them against what people saw before the Holocaust happened.”

Kuper added that there is a perception, “especially amongst the people who have not had the background and just arrived at the museum, that there was no Holocaust on Monday, but on Tuesday there was a Holocaust.

“That’s not how it happened. There were many, many signs and many of the signs we see today are precursors of what people saw in the 1930s, and that is a very, very dangerous place to be. We have to adapt our teaching, connect the historical context of that time to the context of today in the way we present the material and in the way we tell our story. It emphasizes the lessons of the Holocaust in terms of the hatred and xenophobia, racism — all these things are active today as they were active then.”

Bruck, on the subject of adjusting Holocaust education for today, said that universalizing the Holocaust is important.

“The important thing is to emphasize the Jewish aspect of the Holocaust. Of course, students, when they give us a reaction afterwards, say ‘it’s terrible what happened to the Jews,’ but do they understand that this was specifically targeted to Jews — yes, other groups were targeted as well — but the Final Solution was the Final Solution of the Jews. This is something the students really have to understand, and to [also] be able to understand more what’s happening in contemporary society.” n

Holocaust education more essential than ever says survivor Read More »

CSLDS presents The Wizard of Oz

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By: Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Wicked, the “prequel” to The Wizard of Oz, has been getting the lion’s share of attention lately in Wizard lore, owing to the highly successful Broadway musical and last year’s movie spectacle.

But the original L. Frank Baum Wizard of Oz book and, especially, 1939 movie endure, especially as the latter has been a TV perennial since the 1950s. (Fun fact: This was one of the very, very few programs CBS presented in colour in the 1950s.)

Now, the wonders of The Wizard of Oz can be seen live and in person by audience members of all ages. The Côte St. Luc Dramatic Society is presenting the classic at the Harold Greenspon Auditorium, at the Bernard Lang Civic Centre from May 29 to June 15 — 17 performances. The cast is multigenerational and includes six children, as well as elements of puppetry. The co-producers are Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, and councillors Andee Shuster and Mitch Kujavsky.

Brownstein, who plays the Wizard, says that “in a world that often feels uncertain, The Wizard of Oz reminds us that intelligence, compassion, and courage are the keys to finding strength—not only within ourselves, but in the power of community. This heartwarming journey is exactly the kind of story we need right now; one that inspires us to believe in each other and the magic of home.”

Anisa Cameron, artistic director of the CSLDS and director and choreographer of this production, told The Suburban that The Wizard of Oz has “been on our wish list for quite some time, and this felt like the perfect moment to bring it to life.

“This past year marked the 85th anniversary of the beloved film, a milestone that reminded us just how timeless and meaningful this story continues to be. At the same time, Wicked has captured the hearts of a new generation, proving how deeply the world that began with L. Frank Baum’s book still resonates with audiences today. We also wanted to offer something truly magical for audiences of all ages—a show that families can enjoy together, filled with imagination, heart, and, of course, courage.”

Cameron also enthusiastically pointed out to The Suburban that the CSLDS production will have the same amount of music, and other elements, as the 1939 movie.

“We won the rights to The Royal Shakespeare Company version of The Wizard of Oz – which has all of the iconic characters, storyline and music you know and love from the film,” she explained.

Asked if the play will closely follow the movie, or if there will be any differences, Cameron responded that “the live show has a few changes, but for the most part is exactly in line with the film. There is a number from the 1939 film that ended up on the cutting room floor called The Jitterbug that will be back in our show. It’s a really fun song and dance sequence!”

The 1939 movie has many special effects — how will this be handled for a stage production?

“Lots and lots of theatre magic,” Cameron says. “We have a very small but mighty space, and I think we do a pretty good job of transforming it for each production. We will be using puppets again this year, designed by Lily Lachapelle and all audiences should take note there will be liberal use of stage smoke and lighting effects. We have a tremendous team of designers who support us in our productions.”

We also asked if the CSLDS would eventually present Wicked itself.

“Absolutely, if the rights ever come available,” Cameron told The Suburban. “Wicked is still playing on Broadway and the West End, so other, smaller companies don’t have access until the rights houses are allowed to sell to all of us who are eagerly waiting.”

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.csldramaticsociety.com. n

CSLDS presents The Wizard of Oz Read More »

Jewellery distraction scam hits CSL seniors

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

A plethora of scams in the west end and West Island, and across the province, in which people are robbed of their jewellery through distraction crimes, has also hit Côte St. Luc.

A senior resident there had his Rolex watch — valued at between $20,000 and $25,000 — stolen in broad daylight.

The resident’s daughter, a CSL resident who did not want her name or that of her parents used, said the incident took place May 11 on Kellert, right near Hebrew Academy.

The Suburban was told by the daughter that her parents, 76 and 78, had returned from a trip to Costco and were tired.

“As they were finished unloading the car, a couple in a car suddenly stopped right in front of them,” the daughter wrote in an email to The Suburban. “The woman leaned out and, without so much as a proper hello, asked, ‘Where can I find an Arabic supermarket?’ My mom replied with a bit of confusion, ‘Adonis?’ The woman said, ‘Yes! My mom started explaining where the store was to the man that was in the driver’s seat.”

The daughter added that while her mother was giving directions, a woman who appeared to be wearing a hijab approached her father and began to cry, claiming her own father was very sick, “like a scene straight out of a scammer’s training manual.

“Then she told my dad she has her dying father’s watch and begged him to bless it. My dad, being decent and probably caught off guard, went along. She literally took his real watch off his wrist and slipped on some cheap plastic garbage like it was nothing. She even lowered his head as if she giving him some spiritual blessing — all while robbing him blind.” The parents then discovered the Rolex was gone.

The daughter told The Suburban that the police told her “this has happened multiple times across the city.

“When I asked why they haven’t been caught yet, the answer was simple — not enough evidence and no opportunity to catch them in the act. So I have to ask… is our city even safe anymore?”

In a phone interview, the daughter said these scammers are targeting elderly people, “which is very sad.

“I was more disappointed in the police, in their reaction. I understand they have a lot going on with the rallies going on all the time. Montreal is not the same, and CSL is being threatened too. I grew up here, and we never had these issues. It’s scary. This time, they didn’t hurt my parents, tomorrow, they’re going to start hurting if somebody refuses to give.”

The daughter said members of the community should be wary of people asking for directions and breaking down in fake tears, and called for more security measures in CSL.

Mayor Mitchell Brownstein pointed out to The Suburban that CSL has volunteer Citizens On Patrol (vCOPS), Public Security, as well as Station 9 police, “which is more than other cities, so our city is safer than most.”

CSL Public Safety Director Philip Chateauvert told The Suburban that “given our significant elderly population and our priority on safety, we have instructed CSL staff to remain especially vigilant during patrols.

“Mayor Brownstein is right to point out that with Public Security (PS) and vCOP, we have put ourselves in the best position to maintain a safe and peaceful community. I must acknowledge that this type of crime is particularly challenging to prevent, as it often occurs rapidly, and victims may not even notice immediately. Rest assured, we will continue to collaborate with the SPVM to adopt the best strategies and practices to combat distraction theft.”

The SPVM has also issued tips regarding such scams, advising the public to “travel in a group whenever possible, hide your valuable jewellery until you reach your destination” and “refuse a gift from a stranger and do not let that person come close to you.” n

Jewellery distraction scam hits CSL seniors Read More »

Drabkin,Oberman see hope in West End political horizon

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By:Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

After a troubling first week of the new federal Liberal government with ministers angering many Canadians on the issues of housing, pipelines, the budget and the Gaza-Israel war, The Suburban heard from the two Conservative Neils of the past campaign who ran strong campaigns. They both reflected hope and optimism.

Neil Drabkin ran in NDG-Westmount and Neil Oberman ran in Mount Royal, both achieving impressive numbers against incumbents Anna Gainey and Anthony Housefather respectively.

“The strong numbers indicate that Montrealers are starting to come around,” Drabkin said. “Although we haven’t won a seat on the island of Montreal in 37 years, voters seeking change came out for us in large numbers this time due to the strong leadership of Pierre Poilievre. That bodes well for the future and our ability to make inroads in Montreal after all these years,” added Drabkin, who has had a long and rich history with the Conservative Party. A lawyer and former federal prosecutor Drabkin is well known to the community not only as a political commentator on CJAD 800, but also as someone who has served at the highest levels of government in the Brian Mulroney and Stephen Harper administrations including as Chief of Staff to Stockwell Day.

Barbara Kay, in the National Post, called Drabkin a “proven political commodity.” Rabbi Reuben Poupko of Côte St. Luc’s Beth Israel Beth Aaron Synagogue has said, “Our community is extremely proud of the contribution that Neil has made and to the extent to which he has always been there to assist.” Despite accepting to run at the request of the Party in what is considered to be one of the safest Liberal strongholds in the country, Drabkin tripled the Conservative vote to over 10,000 or some 20%, the highest in decades.

Oberman engaged in one of the most formidable campaigns in many years in Mount Royal, which has been a Liberal stronghold since 1940. The candidate, best known for protecting some 47 Jewish institutions with the injunctions he won against anti-Israel protesters, sought debates with Housefather and campaigned vigorously throughout the riding, which includes Côte St. Luc, Hampstead and Montreal West, gaining a historic 40% of the vote

Oberman says that his commitment “remains unwavering.Sometimes setbacks are tuition in the school of leadership,” he added. “I will persist in collaborating with all constituents, which includes approximately 41 percent of our riding who are actively seeking change. This desire for transformation is palpable and significant. Change is indeed on the horizon — however, it often comes with challenges and requires perseverance.”

Oberman added, “Simply put. The current liberal government is doing exactly what it promised. Nothing. So to all Canadians who voted for the liberals you got what you asked for. Now the question is will Canadians take back their country and stand up for change. Hopefully this government will be dispatched from Ottawa sooner than later. As for the young people I encourage you to keep advocating for your future just don’t expect the liberal baby boomers to help you. What can we do as Conservatives? Show Canadians that change is possible when we stop following old ways that yield no positive result. Your vote your voice your choice brings change.” n

Drabkin,Oberman see hope in West End political horizon Read More »

Call 311 and get results!

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The advice police all over the world give, “if you see something, say something,” does not only apply to looking out for suspicious people and calling local authorities.

It can also apply to potential hazards in neighbourhoods that could harm members of the public.

On May 13, on the north side of Queen Mary Road between Earnscliffe and Clanranald in Snowdon, I saw that a sign prohibiting parking between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. in a bus zone was almost hanging by a thread. One of the bolts the sign was attached to had broken and it was tilted diagonally, looking like it could come off completely and cause major harm to a passerby.

Major harm had come to the area just days before. A block and a half to the west, a branch from a tree at the corner of Queen Mary and Macdonald in neighbouring Côte St. Luc fell and killed a 76-year-old woman.

Not wanting another tragedy to take place, I called the 311 city portal, a number used to inform the City of Montreal of potentially dangerous situations, at 9:43 p.m. May 13. A representative answered right away, took down the information, and promised to send someone to fix the sign.

By the time I returned to the area at around 6:30 p.m. May 14, the sign was fixed and firmly secured, proving that calling 311 for a potentially hazardous situation results in a very rapid response. Montrealers should be on the lookout for other potential dangers and call the service as soon as possible. n

Call 311 and get results! Read More »

West end Mayors press Girard on Cavendish, Hippodrome

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Mayors from Côte St. Luc, St. Laurent and Town of Mount Royal recently met with Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard to press the case for the long-awaited Cavendish link and for a proper mobility plan for the Hippodrome site, Councillor Dida Berku reported to CSL council.

Berku, who was also part of the meeting with Girard, pointed out that as far as back as 1962, there was an agreement between CSL, St. Laurent, TMR and Montreal to build Cavendish, but Quebec shifted the focus to the then-future Décarie Expressway.

Switching to the present, Berku said the meeting with Girard took place the week before the council meeting.

“Now that the federal election is over, the provincial and municipal leaders are scrambling for infrastructure money,” she pointed out. “The Mayors asked the Minister to respect the 2017 Hippodrome sale agreement [to include the Cavendish extension in the overall project], and to understand that even if infrastructure money was to come, that it should not be given unless it’s also attached to the Cavendish project.”

Berku said the Mayors also told Girard that the Hippodrome project, in which 20,000 homes are planned for the site, needs a proper mobility plan.

“We were given a presentation by the City of Montreal two weeks ago where the mobility plan was completely unrealistic,” she explained. “It’s a non-starter. There’s one access for Jean Talon, and another for Devonshire. However, the fire department insists, and this is perhaps something that works in our favour, that there be three separate egress and access points for the Hippodrome project.”

Berku said there are two access options being considered.

“One is an underpass on Clanranald [from Jean Talon in Montreal to Côte St. Luc], but in my view it would be very difficult to have a fire truck go under [the rail tracks] on Clanranald. That would be a major underpass.” She later said a Clanranald underpass would be optimal for pedestrians, even possibly with a moving sidewalk.

The other. previously reported by The Suburban, would be for Jean Talon to go to Mackle in CSL.

“They keep pushing it, but we keep telling them it doesn’t make any sense. You’d have to cross nine tracks, parking lots, wetlands, and probably build an underpass double the length of the existing Cavendish underpass. It’s going to be much more expensive, much longer and more difficult to build than the underpass they would build if they did the Cavendish extension.” The more realistic option, she told The Suburban, is to extend Jean Talon to an extended Cavendish, “which would be less expensive than the Mackle option.”

Berku said the City of Montreal “has to understand that they have no other option” but to also build the Cavendish link.

“I told Girard, why would we invest even $1 into the infrastructure if there’s no viable mobility plan?” she told The Suburban.

What was Girard’s response, we asked.

“It was ‘It’s going to take a long time, and the federal government hasn’t given any money yet,’” Berku said. “The Mayors are going to insist that when Prime Minister Mark Carney meets [Montreal Mayor] Valérie Plante, that he understands very well that investing in the Hippodrome infrastructure could be a priority for the City of Montreal, but it should not be realized unless it’s linked to Cavendish, because there’s no viable road network to service the Hippodrome.”

Mayor Mitchell Brownstein said not building the Cavendish extension along with the Hippodrome project would represent a breach of contract.

“We’ll keep on pushing.” n

West end Mayors press Girard on Cavendish, Hippodrome Read More »

St. Laurent, Jacques-Cartier MNAs support Rodriguez for QLP leader

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

St. Laurent MNA Marwah Rizqy and Jacques Cartier MNA Gregory Kelley have declared their support for Pablo Rodriguez as leader of the Quebec Liberal Party.

Rodriguez, who has appeared at several local events lately, was former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Quebec lieutenant. He made the latest endorsement announcement accompanied by Michelle Setlakwe, campaign co-chair and MNA for Mont-Royal–Outremont.

Kelley and Rizqy are a married couple. Kelley, also the Official Opposition Critic for Energy, for Natural Resources, and for Relations with English-Speaking Quebecers, stated that Rodriguez is “someone who brings people together, not someone who divides.

“He has the experience and know-how to help continue to rebuild the party and I feel confident supporting someone who has faced down the Trump administration as a federal minister and has contacts all across Quebec and Canada. He can make Quebec a leader in the Canadian federation again, something we need in these unstable times.”

Rizqy, who announced months ago that she is not running for re-election, said Rodriguez is “the right man for the Quebec Liberal Party.

“His experience and drive will allow us to build a strong Liberal team to offer Quebecers a credible alternative to François Legault.”

Rodriguez himself stated this week that “I have a plan, I have the experience, and I definitely have a strong team to take on François Legault and the PQ in the next election.

“In order for the QLP to win the next election, it is absolutely necessary to unite all the Liberal forces. It is thanks to competent and high-quality people like Greg and Marwah that I will succeed. I’m really lucky to be able to count on their support and, above all, to have the privilege of calling them my friends,” says Pablo Rodriguez.

Rodriguez has already received endorsements from MNAs Désirée McGraw, Linda Caron, Setlakwe, Frédéric Beauchemin, Brigitte Garceau, Sona Lakhoyan-Olivier, Elisabeth Prass and Marie-Claude Nichols

Rodriguez is running against Karl Blackburn former President of the Conseil du Patronat du Quebec (2020–2025) Director General of the QLP (2009–2013) and MNA for Roberval (2003–2007) and Charles Milliard former President of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (2020–2024). Also in the race are attorney Marc Belamger and economist Mario Roy. n

St. Laurent, Jacques-Cartier MNAs support Rodriguez for QLP leader Read More »

Festival Sefarad to attract all generations this year

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The 45th edition of the very popular Communauté Sépharade Unifiée de Québec’s Festival Sefarad de Montréal started yesterday May 13 and will run until May 28 at various venues.

Avi Krispine, the festival’s president, told The Suburban in a phone interview that the goal of the festival is to attract “every generation possible, who is capable of attending.

“We want to attract more than 5,000 to attend the many events this year,” he added. “We’re offering a variety of cultural events — lectures, musical performances, theatre and comedy. What we’re doing differently this year is we’re using the talent we have in this city. We call it ‘Made in Quebec.’ We also decided to go ahead in very strategic venues, and the tickets have been selling quite fast.”

A highlight of the festival will be a gala May 25 at Théâtre St. Denis featuring famed Israel singer Eden Hason making his debut in Canada and a roundtable discussion featuring a media personality from France, a former member of the Canadian Special Forces, and others. The proceedings begin with a VIP event at 5 p.m. and then the Hason concert at 8 p.m.

This event is sponsored by the Benita Family Foundation, founded by Didier Benita, which was created after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. Its mission includes the restoration of Israeli homes and essential infrastructure, reviving the country’s economy by attracting investments and creating jobs and supporting youth “through mentorship, education, and professional development programs.”

Benita, the gala chairman, told The Suburban the roundtable will not only discuss what took place Oct. 7, 2023, “but also how we can rebuild the country and how we can save lives.”

Some of the other festival events include:

• May 15, 7 p.m at the Gelber Centre: The free lecture is called Discovering the Song of Songs, a Biblical text, and includes a presentation by professor and author Dr. David Bensoussan, in conversation with Dr. Marc-Alain Wolfe. This event is being presented as part of the Jewish Public Library’s “Authors from Home” festival and series. Painter Anne-Marie Marrache will exhibit her works on the theme of the conference and singer Hazan Sion Chriqui will perform.

• May 16 and 17, at various Montreal synagogues: A Shabbat Tous Ensemble” that is described as a “true tribute to Sephardic heritage.”

• May 18, 2 p.m. at the Gelber Centre: A free lecture called Le Carnet de Rachel, focusing on “the unusual journey of an exceptional Moroccan Jewish woman seen through Judeo-Arabic proverbs.”

• May 18, 8 p.m.at the Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem Synagogue: A singles evening for ages 25 to 35 that includes a wine tasting and buffet.

• May 20, 8 p.m. at Théâtre Plaza, 6505 St. Hubert: Séfarade du Rire 2 featuring comedian Neev.

• May 27, 7:30 p.m. at Théâtre Plaza, 6505 St. Hubert: The play Un 6-Plex Pas Très Kasher, directed by Ariel Ifergan, about Côte des Neiges six-plex owner Armand Benadoun, who, “despite his eloquence, energy, and fine speeches, is finding it increasingly difficult to navigate today’s world.”

For more information on all the events, to reserve spots and purchase tickets, go to festivalsefarad.ca

Festival Sefarad to attract all generations this year Read More »

Quebec med school applicants posted antisemitic, racist messages

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

A public Discord server called Med serveur on the Internet has become a “cesspool of antisemitism, racism, misogyny, and hate,” B’nai Brith Canada has revealed.

“For months, a number of aspiring doctors openly posted Holocaust denial, praise for the ‘Final Solution,’ hurled racial slurs, glorified terrorism, and degraded women,” the organization said. “This content wasn’t buried. It was shared in open channels, visible to over 1,400 members. Almost no one spoke up. These aren’t anonymous trolls. They are future doctors. And this kind of hate doesn’t stay online. It follows them into classrooms, clinics, and operating rooms.”

B’ani Brith Canada added that “silence enables this rot to spread. Institutions must act—now.Hate like this has no place in healthcare—or anywhere in Canadian society.”

The organization revealed some of the offending posts, which say “the Islamic State of Quebec,” “they are just Negroes”, “imagine a woman under antidepressant and f–king Ritalin who [performs?] surgery on you. She’ll vomit mid-surgery because it’s ‘too stressful’ and she needs a ‘mental health break’” and “Don’t worry. You can trust me as long as you don’t have kippa under your wig.” There are also cartoon depictions of Jews reminiscent of those in the Nazi publication Der Sturmer.

B’nai Brith added its own message in a graphic, saying “you’ve been exposed” and “would you trust these doctors with your life?”

Lior Bibas of the Association of Jewish Doctors of Quebec stated, “If these accounts are really from future physicians, we need an immediate investigation to identify those responsible and ensure they are not admitted to our medical schools or allowed to practice medicine. It is essential that the institutions involved act swiftly, transparently, and decisively to restore public trust.

“Hate has no place in medicine. These reported comments are not only unacceptable—they are dangerous. Admitting individuals who hold such views into the medical profession poses a real risk to Quebec patients, especially those from vulnerable communities. Medicine must be grounded in ethics, respect, and inclusion. Those who do not uphold these values should not be entrusted with the care of our population.”

A 106-page report that is circulating amongst Jewish doctors, most of which contains examples of the numerous offensive postings, alleges that at least one Dawson College student and a current Quebec medical student have posted some of the messages. The Dawson administration is reportedly looking into the matter.

The report adds that “themes commonly mentioned included claims that Quebec medical students discriminated against Arab/Muslim medical applicants and in favour of Jewish medical applicants….Most concerningly, no other bystanders [on Discord] stepped in to challenge these narratives, raising questions as to the moral fibre and character of the medical student applicant pool in Quebec and their ability to correctly identify and stand up to racism, sexism and Jew hatred.” n

Quebec med school applicants posted antisemitic, racist messages Read More »

Coroner, CSL investigating after senior killed by tree branch

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The Quebec Coroner and the City of Côte St. Luc are investigating after a branch of a city tree fell on the head of a 76-year-old woman at the corner of Queen Mary Road and Macdonald early Saturday afternoon.

The victim was in critical condition as of Saturday night, but later passed away. There are many older trees in the area, which borders both Hampstead and Snowdon.

Police, paramedics and firefighters responded to the scene. The SPVM does not believe the incident was criminal, and the Coroner has taken over the investigation.

The City of Côte St. Luc issued a statement, saying officials are “shocked by the tragic incident.

“Côte St. Luc EMS first responders arrived quickly on scene, and the individual was transported to hospital by Urgences-Santé. This is a shocking and rare tragedy and CSL will be conducting a full investigation to determine what happened.”

The CSL statement added that an arborist was conducting a full investigation and the city had blocked off the area until necessary pruning had taken place.

“Public safety is our highest priority. We are committed to understanding what happened and taking all appropriate measures.”

At the May 12 CSL council meeting, Mayor Mitchell Brownstein expressed condolences to the family of the victim, Ljubica Milicevic, who came to Montreal from Serbia and was the French librarian at Solomon Schechter Academy as well as an author.

“It’s a great loss to the community,” Brownstein added.

The Suburban noted that there were fairly high winds in the vicinity on Friday. As well, two years ago, in the aftermath of the 2023 ice storm, a branch fell off a tree right next to myself as I was seated on a bench in nearby Macdonald Park in Snowdon. n

Coroner, CSL investigating after senior killed by tree branch Read More »

Hampstead’s Levi, Steinberg clash over parkspace

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The May 5 Hampstead council meeting was almost filled to capacity, and featured a clash between Mayor Jeremy Levi and his predecessor William Steinberg over the potential future of park space at the corner of Queen Mary and Northcote.

Before the meeting, Steinberg circulated a flier based on meeting agenda item 9.2, the “awarding of a contract to Profusion Immobilier Inc. for real estate broker services for the sale mandate of four lots owned by the Town of Hampstead.” Steinberg, who got more information about the item from a source, claimed in the flier that Hampstead is about to sell the Northcote park space “so that two enormous homes can be built there.

“No consultation, no referendum, no notice — just a small item on the agenda which does not even identify which lots are being sold,” the flier says.

At the meeting, before question period, Levi explained that the item was being deferred because of public reaction the previous weekend and that there was never any vote intended at that meeting for the sale of the land, “full stop.”

The Mayor explained that council brainstormed last summer over the possibility of selling the piece of land, potentially a $6 million transaction, and the town then gathered more information. A public consultation would then follow, he added.

“For Item 9.2, the purpose of giving out a mandate was to have a real estate firm create a rendering of what potential two single-family homes at that corner would look like. Council is trying to be extremely objective. What we’re trying to do is come up with creative ways that the town can increase revenue to fast track [ways to] better our infrastructure, parks and recreation services, community services and, in doing so, we need to find a balance of what are acceptable parameters that the public accepts.”

Levi also pointed out that the town’s intention is to “come up with options, present them to the public and discuss them. If it works, great, if it doesn’t, put it to the side.”

The Mayor also pointed out that the park land is actually zoned as residential, and thus not subject to a zoning referendum if the town decided to sell the land for housing; and even if there was a referendum, the entire town would participate, not just area residents. Levi said he would not feel comfortable selling the land if just over 50 percent of residents voted to do so, because so many would have opposed the selling option.

“We are not trying to hide anything.”

Residents at the meeting strongly expressed their opposition to the selling of the parkland, with one urging the town to zone the area as a park almost immediately. Levi said the flier had misinformation, which Steinberg strongly denied.

Steinberg, during his second time at the microphone, quoted an email written to him by Levi saying that council would “probably” have a consultation. Levi said he wrote the email at midnight. “I don’t think we should get caught up on semantics,” the Mayor said.

“When I put information out, I’m very careful and I say only what’s true,” Steinberg responded.

“And you said that ‘this is your last chance to stop it’ in the flier, which is not true!” Levi said. “You said that they were going to build enormous homes, which is not true! We haven’t even seen a rendering, how do we know?!” n

Hampstead’s Levi, Steinberg clash over parkspace Read More »

Jewish Unity Expo was a Vegas-style success

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The Montreal Jewish Unity Expo, bringing together 212 businesses and firms and thousands of attendees including Ensemble Montreal leader Soraya Martinez Ferrada for a day of networking, took place May 6 on Côte de Liesse Road in St. Laurent.

The event attracted a wide variety of companies, including real estate, sellers of cameras, power cleaning, 3D printing, a real estate virtual reality photographer, law firms like Choueke Hollander and Spiegel Ryan, mattress companies and many more.

Isaac Blackman, co-founder of the event with Martin Weiss, told The Suburban the expo was conceived six months ago and is the first such event at this scale — a previous event five years before had 30 booths.

“Fast forward, take a look around, at [about 1 p.m,], there were 3,688 people at this venue, and counting, thank God,” he said. “The concept of the event is supporting your fellow Jew, supporting another business, supporting another friend, bringing together every single community. Everyone is here to have a good time — network, support each other and walk out with connections.”

Blackman added that “everyone here so far, that I’ve heard, has built businesses, got contracts and leads. It’s amazing!”

Weiss, the co-founder of the event, said the original idea was that the “glue of the show was going to be real estate, that the exhibitors could talk to one another in that world.

“But we also expanded to have a little bit more fun, some food, some plant-based meat, things like that. But most of the show is real estate-based.”

The Suburban spoke with some of the exhibitors, and they were very pleased with how the event was proceeding.

Adam Spiro, who specializes in commercial restructuring and insolvency at the Spiegel Ryan law firm, said the firm decided to be part of the event as “we contribute to the Jewish community, we have a lot of Jewish clients, and wanted to be part of such a beautiful event!

“We couldn’t not be here. I met people I’ve spoken to on the phone a hundred times, and I met so many new people who will hopefully become clients, and hopefully friends too. I hope they do this event next year!”

Brian Breitstein of Wrap Demons, which transforms the look of vehicles with custom wraps as well as car colour changes and commercial vehicle graphics, said the event has been beneficial for the company.

“I’ve met a lot of people, I made a lot of contacts and a lot of people have taken my card, and I encountered a lot of businesses that need their trucks wrapped. There are more people here than I expected!”

Alina Tertychna of Groupe Monerix, an employment consultant, said “it’s a very nice event, lots of nice people and great information. Very useful!” n

Jewish Unity Expo was a Vegas-style success Read More »

Montreal police chief defends handling of Cavendish anti-Israel protest

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Montreal police chief Fady Dagher responded to The Suburban about the SPVM’s handling of the April 7 anti-Israel protest at Quartier Cavendish in Côte St. Luc.

While the police moved the protesters away from the CineStarz theatre where a special showing of the documentary October 8, about the rise of antisemitism since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, took place, the agitators were allowed to stay in the mall for more than two hours.

Côte St. Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein and the mall ownership had called on the police to eject the protesters, citing Criminal Code provisions against intimidation, and Brownstein and Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather reinforced this point in a letter to the Plante administration. Police on the scene said they could not take this action unless the protesters committed a crime, and that they could stay in a public access on private property.

Dagher was asked about this by The Suburban following his April 25 visit with students at Gardenview Elementary School in St. Laurent.

“It all depends on the situation, every situation is different,” the police chief said. “We have lawyers who work with the police department and they let us know when it is the time to act. We have some events where the police act right away during those demonstrations and in the last year and a half, we made more than 120 arrests.”

Dagher said police actions depend on the timing and the rules officers follow — each situation is different, and sometimes non-intervention is appropriate.

“It’s always depending on the circumstances. The police department never wants to start something, we want to resolve the issues, so we have to find the right time.”

Housefather and Brownstein had also written to the Plante administration that the SPVM’s decision not to eject the anti-Israel protesters “stands in stark contrast to the police response in other jurisdictions where trespassing on private property has led to prompt enforcement. It also underscores a broader and deeply troubling inconsistency in how public safety is being ensured on the Island of Montreal.”

Dagher acknowledged to The Suburban that different cities in Canada have different policies emanating from the rules of their municipality.

“But for the Criminal Code, we always get assisted by our lawyers. The Criminal Code is for everyone in Canada, but again, we have to find exactly the right moment, the needs for what is happening and when we have the right tools — then we intervene. Sometimes it feels very frustrating for the people to see that the police are not acting, but it’s not because they don’t want to. They have to make sure they have the right legal argument to be able to advance.” n

Montreal police chief defends handling of Cavendish anti-Israel protest Read More »

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