Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa

Sixteen NDG households displaced by 5-alarm fire

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By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

A five-alarm fire has displaced families from a 16-unit apartment building in NDG.

The fire broke out around 9 a.m. last Friday morning on Westmore near St. Jacques, near the Montreal West train station. One hundred and fifty firefighters battled to get the fire under control, many working from the roof of the four-storey building.

CDN-NDG Borough Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa was at the scene, and said that the Red Cross would be helping the displaced residents. Katahwa also confirmed that there were no serious injuries. One firefighter had been transported to hospital after suffering heatstroke.

Katahwa indicated to The Suburban that the borough, along with the Office Municipal d’Habitation de Montréal (OMHM) and the NDG Community Council would be helping the residents.

The cause of the fire is as yet unknown. It may have started in a dumpster in the back of the building, spreading quickly. But that had not been confirmed by deadline.

Damage is estimated to be several hundred thousand dollars.

NDG-Westmount MP Anna Gainey posted to her social media later in the day “My thoughts are with the 16 families affected by today’s fire at Saint-Jacques and Westmore in NDG. I want to thank the firefighters who acted quickly to contain the blaze and protect lives, as well as the community workers and neighbours who are already stepping up to support those displaced.”

“In moments like these,” she added, “the strength of our community shines through. My office will continue to follow the situation closely and offer help wherever possible.”

The firefighters union did not wax as positive. The Association des Pompiers de Montréal, said that though the situation at 2012 Westmore could have been a lot worse, it also could have been a lot better. Highlighting the Auditor General’s recent report on the inefficiencies plaguing the SIM, including problems with inventory tracking, lack of working gear, it said that normally firefighters would have been at the scene in 3.5 minutes. “But not today. The firetruck at Station 77 was parked out of service in the garage, with four firefighters waiting because they lacked certified and compliant PPE (personal protective gear) to respond.”

Station 77 is located on Westminster Avenue in Montreal West, between Nelson and Brock, slightly more than a kilometre away from the fire.

Montreal fire chief Richard Liebman said after the release of the Auditor General’s report that the SIM was aware of the problem, and that the city had already invested more than $6 million for more PPE and other equipment.

But the union pointed out that, as of Friday night, “25 fire trucks are out of service across the island of Montreal, 19 of them due to a lack of compliant PPE.” n

Sixteen NDG households displaced by 5-alarm fire Read More »

Filipino community in CDN-NDG holds vigil for Vancouver victims

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By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

Pinay Quebec and other groups in the Filipino community came together to organize a vigil last Monday evening in Mackenzie-King Park.

The vigil was of course to mourn the deaths of those killed the weekend before in Vancouver.

As is now well-known, last Saturday, April 26 the Filipino community of Vancouver were celebrating the Lapu-Lapu festival when a 30-year-old man, who has since been arrested, drove his car into the crowd, plowing into celebrants, killing eleven people and injuring several others.

Several hundred people attended the vigil, including several of Montreal’s elected officials from all levels of government, and several representatives of the Filipino community.

“We grieve these losses and feel the pain of the families of the deceased,” said Jasmin de la Calzada of Pinoy Quebec. “Tonight’s vigil is about our own Montreal community’s process of mourning. Tonight is a venue to grieve, process what’s happened.”

CND-NDG Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa told The Suburban “We have the biggest Filipino community in Quebec here in Cote des Neiges-NDG. For me it was important to tell the community that we are with them in this difficult moment.”

Norberto Mandin Jr. is the creator of Canadian Pinoy Radio-Montreal. He woke up to the news of the horrific incident, and started reaching out to friends in Vancouver right away, calling and texting. But he received no reply, which worried him. Eventually he found out that one of those killed was a friend.

“A celebration of pride of our culture, or our heritage ended in eleven lives lost,” adding “we are gathered today as one community demonstrating that despite this darkness in our community, we are one, we are together, and we will move forward.”

Projet Montreal leader Luc Rabouin was also in attendance, as were NDG-CDN councillors Despina Sourias and Sonny Moroz, and D’arcy-McGee MNA Elisabeth Prass. Anthony Housefather and Neil Oberman werr also there, just hours before the polls closed in the federal election.

Community members were laying wreaths and flowers before a banner that read “Luksang Bayan,” meaning “National Mourning.”

Stephanie Valenzuela, the Ensemble Montreal councillor for the Darlington district in the CDN-NDG borough, is a member of the Filipino community. She spoke emotionally, saying “tonight we gather as one in sorrow, in solidarity, and in strength.”

“If there is anything that we’ve learned from what happened on Saturday,” she added, “it’s that we continue moving forward with kindness and compassion in our hearts, because that’s who we are not just as Filipinos, but as Canadians.” n

Filipino community in CDN-NDG holds vigil for Vancouver victims Read More »

CSL meetings with CDN-NDG on traffic woes imminent

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Staff from the City of Côte St. Luc are set to meet with their officials from Côte des Neiges-NDG very soon regarding traffic issues affecting the two jurisdictions, and then CSL Mayor Mitchell Brownstein will meet with CDN-NDG Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa, Brownstein told The Suburban Monday.

Councillor Dida Berku told The Suburban the technical teams from CSL and CDN-NDG meet regularly.

Tensions have been building lately between Côte St. Luc, Hampstead and Côte des Neiges-NDG regarding the road work on Van Horne west of Décarie, which has exacerbated longstanding traffic issues in the three areas.

At the Jan. 20 CSL council meeting, Brownstein said he was unhappy that he had not yet received a reply from Katahwa asking for a meeting to discuss immediate traffic solutions, particularly on Vézina between Macdonald and Décarie, a notorious area for traffic tie-ups.

“If the CDN-NDG borough wants to see our master plan include a bike path and passageways for pedestrians on Clanranald, and potentially the widening of Vézina, they need to give us something,” the Mayor told the Jan. 20 meeting. “If they’re not going to respond, they’re not going to get. We have to be tough and let them know — you have to meet with us, you have to talk to us. We need to play hardball.”

Brownstein said CSL has been asking for no parking on Vézina approaching Décarie eastward, and he pointed out that the Décarie Square developers are willing to allow parking on the current mall site during rush hour.

“They can park there right now.”

The Suburban contacted the CDN-NDG Mayor’s office regarding a possible meeting with CSL. We were told that CSL was sent a letter by the Mayor on Jan. 17.

“Our services have been in contact with Côte St. Luc teams since the start of the work,” the CDN-NDG Mayor’s office said. “In fact, we informed them several weeks ago that it was not possible to comply with their request to remove parking on Vézina/Décarie. It’s important to note that this request has been ongoing since well before this work began.”

Brownstein then confirmed to The Suburban on Jan. 22 that he did receive the letter after the CSL Jan. 20 council meeting, and that a meeting will indeed take place.

“I am very pleased [the Mayor] accepted our invitation to meet. There are many ways we can help each other to the benefit of all residents in the area.”

Still, we have heard there are underlying tensions between the two jurisdictions over the long-awaited Cavendish link, as well as Vézina.

As for Côte St. Luc and Hampstead, CSL councillor Mitch Kujavsky told The Suburban last week that he will propose to council possible retaliatory measures against Hampstead, regarding their not temporarily lifting the rush hour left-turn restrictions on eastbound Fleet Road during the work on Van Horne.

“Hampstead residents benefit a lot from being neighbours of CSL, for example, discounts on recreation services _ there are many ways we can consider or reconsider our partnerships with Hampstead,” Kujavsky told The Suburban, adding that he was speaking for himself.

Councillor Dida Berku recently said removing the left turn restrictions “would have been a perfect opportunity for Hampstead to show some good faith.”

Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi recently told The Suburban that lifting the left-turn restrictions temporarily “would be a disaster. The cars would be lined up bumper to bumper to Fleet. It would cripple our snow clearing operations on that side of Fleet. Garbage and recycling would not be able to be picked up either.”

Kujavsky countered that the Van Horne work will “hold up Côte St. Luc residents from leaving our city. People are going to go both ways, they’re not just going to go through Hampstead, they’ll go through NDG also.”

The CSL councillor added that being stuck in standstill traffic on Fleet and Van Horne is not acceptable, and will prompt more air pollution through idling.

Levi responded that what Kujavsky said was “nonsense” and that he did not really want to respond to a hypothetical.

“If he’s going to retaliate because we’re concerned about the safety and security of our streets, I think it would be a very silly thing on his part.” n

CSL meetings with CDN-NDG on traffic woes imminent Read More »

EMSB wants Terrebonne bike paths removed for winter

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By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

Despite Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa stating in a recent borough council meeting that the contentious bicycle paths on Terrebonne will not be removed for the winter even in the face of calls from many residents that it be removed, EMSB Chair Joe Ortona is not giving up. He has written a letter to the mayor asking her to remove the path. He has asked that the letter be tabled as a “public correspondence” at the next borough council meeting on December 2. The letter is effectively asking borough council to change its mind on the issue.

In his letter, Ortona says “a recent accident involving a school bus and a parent’s vehicle that occurred directly in front of St. Monica Elementary School” was “a direct result of the borough’s redesign of Terrebonne Avenue.”

Terrebonne used to be a two-way street. But earlier this year the borough decided to change the street’s configuration to one way in either direction away from Cavendish. And, of course, due to the bicycle paths on either side of the street, Terrebonne is now much narrower.

“The section in front of St. Monica Elementary,” Ortona writes, “is especially problematic, as pre-existing sidewalk extensions were left in place, further reducing the already constrained space for vehicular traffic. The road has become extraordinarily narrow, leaving insufficient room for vehicles to safely manoeuvre.”

He says the decision to leave the street as is throughout the winter “is both reckless and dismissive of the needs of children and families” and rather favours the ostensibly small number of cyclists that are likely to use the Terrebonne bike paths in the winter.

This is not the first time Ortona has written to borough council on the matter. He wrote back in February that the EMSB objected to the bicycle path, saying it would adversely affect pick-up and drop-off, parking for staff and parents, the safety of the students at St. Monica School, the Mackay Centre and Philip E. Layton School, and Willingdon school. The principals of each had also written letters bolstering the school board’s complaints.

“The borough has failed to address these concerns,” Ortona says. “Our schools feel marginalized, as their needs have been overshadowed by the borough’s prioritization of the cycling community.”

Aside from the temporary removal of the bicycle paths, the EMSB is also asking for “the creation of a joint committee comprising EMSB specialists and borough traffic officials to collaboratively design safer conditions for the spring.”

The accident to which Ortona refers happened last month. A mother was getting back into her car after dropping off her child. The school bus, trying to navigate the now narrower street, hit her car door. “Thankfully, no one was seriously injured,” Ortona writes. But “the bus and the car sustained considerable damage, and the students onboard the bus were trapped for ten minutes due to the door being obstructed.” n

EMSB wants Terrebonne bike paths removed for winter Read More »

Future uncertain for Wilderton lot slated for social housing

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By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

Anybody who has looked at the redevelopment of the Wilderton shopping centre into a mixed-use residential commercial development can’t help but notice the dramatic transformation, but also the lingering empty lot on the eastern edge of the property.

Originally slated for some 20 social housing units, the developer of the property owned by First Capital dropped the plan to build and opted instead to pay $420,000 into the city’s housing fund.

At July council, Darlington councillor Stephanie Valenzuela asked what the plan was. “I would like to have a follow-up on what is happening now with the lot.” Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa steered the question to borough director Stéphane Plante, who replied that “the promoter decided to pay the sums rather than go with a lot because the financial package was too difficult. I’m telling you this with all reservations, because I have to check, but the last information we had was for this purpose.”

That entire project was approved in 2016 and was supposed to be three phases: a seniors’ residence; a commercial and residential development; and a phase of social housing. A nearby plot of land was donated to the city, but the social housing on-site was nixed. “My assumption is that they never found a proper organization to take control of the project,” says Valenzuela, adding “they were likely also counting on funds from the province which never came and opted instead to just pay into the fund.”

The borough finally did confirm that the developer made a financial contribution “as it was unable to carry out a social housing project on the site due to a lack of funding from the provincial government.” The borough did not say what the plans were for the site. First Capital did not respond to requests for comment before press time.

As of year-end 2023, there was more than $15 million in the city’s social housing fund comprised of contributions from builders who opt out of Montreal’s mixed metropolis bylaw adopted three years ago. Earlier this year the city announced that it was easing up on its vaunted 20-20-20 rule, which obliges developers to include social, affordable and family housing in their projects. The city instituted some temporary changes to the rules, including boosting compensation to developers for land transfers to the city for such purposes, and payments into the fund in lieu of building will be frozen for two years. Also, smaller projects — 20 households or less — are exempt from the contribution and affordable housing obligation. n

Future uncertain for Wilderton lot slated for social housing Read More »

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

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By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Monument to Isabella: monument to inaction?

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By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

How long does it take to remove a small slab of granite from a park?

(Not a trick question, but maybe a tricky one.)

For 65 years a small monument has stood at the southeast entrance to Macdonald Park, a dynamic green space at Snowdon’s western edge.

Alongside footpaths, swing sets and dogs, stands the tribute to the murderous Isabella I of Castille, who brought the inquisition to Spain, where hundreds of thousands of Jews and Muslims were tortured and expelled. “She was the Hitler of her day,” said resident David Engel. “Given the many religious and ethnic communities in the area, should she still be celebrated?”

It’s a while since 1958, when historical consciousness was less pervasive, but in 2024 begs the question: Is it appropriate to honor a medieval monarch who reigned over massacres and genocide in service to imperialism and Christian dominance in the heart of one of Canada’s most diverse neighbourhoods?

It was radio silence at Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante’s office, which had nothing to comment more than a year ago, other than suggesting a query to Montreal’s media relations department, which did not respond, even as Montreal’s recognition rules acknowledge times change: “as knowledge and values evolve in society, questions sometimes arise about people or events recognized in another era. Such situations may lead to requests for revision of certain acts of recognition that took place long ago, a process also covered in the framework.”

It’s been almost 18 months since Borough Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa, recently named Plante administration point-person on racism and discrimination, welcomed a suggestion by Engel and Snowdon councillor Sonny Moroz to remove it, and asked Moroz to follow up. Numerous residents have told The Suburban they could save city dollars and “take care of it.”

Moroz said he made his third official request to remove the statue in January, fully within the borough’s purview, but seems to be slowed by bureaucratic processes. “I asked that they just remove it and leave the flower bed because residents want to keep that.”

The stone was dedicated in October 1958 by 18 consuls in Montreal on the 466th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of America, itself a few months after the Alhambra Decree expelled Spain’s practising Jews. Not only did Isabella oversee torture, massacre and forced conversion of hundreds of thousands, but survivors were given a deadline to convert or leave. Over half of Spain’s Jews were forcibly converted in the 14th century, with 40,000-100,000 expelled from Spain.

“Isabella was a monster,” said Engel, who brought the issue to the borough in 2022. “Given what’s going on around the world and here in Montreal and this borough with a huge spike in antisemitism, how is this still here? Wouldn’t the city and borough mayor want to look good?”

“We are fully aware of the unease of many citizens, including members of the Jewish community, about the presence of a tombstone of Queen Isabella in MacDonald Park” said Katahwa’s office, acknowledging the atrocities and the desire of many local residents to remove it, adding, “we prefer not to comment on the matter as we are in the process of fine-tuning the details with Councillor Sonny Moroz.”

Moroz wishes this “wasn’t a story, but residents want it removed and they need somebody to push to make it happen… This was about celebrating imperialism, and it no longer has a place here. It’s very simple.” n

Monument to Isabella: monument to inaction? Read More »

Taxes and CDN/NDG’s “dirty” water

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By Joel Ceausu

Like other Montrealers, Neal Mukherjee just got his municipal property tax bill. But one line on it caught the particular attention of the NDG resident: “I was billed an amount for water service tax. Considering that my water is contaminated with lead,” he asked Borough Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa, “considering my water is dirty, why is the city taxing me on dirty water?”

“The city, if I’m not mistaken, gave itself 10 years to change the lead water entries for all Montrealers,” responded Katahwa, “and in Côte des Neiges-Notre Dame de Grace, we are one of the most advanced boroughs in terms of changing these lead water entries for citizens here.” She then pointed out that “you use water for all kinds of reasons: to drink, to prepare, to take your shower, so water is an important resource for many people.”

While the city has decided to change the lead water entries, she says “the level that is in some of our pipes is not a level that is dangerous for the health of the population in where it is right now. So we have time to change them because it’s the best practice to do, and we want to have the best water possible for Montrealers, but you’re not poisoning yourself right now. Water is a resource that is increasingly scarce and important in the world, so I think we should all be very grateful to be able to have this running water in our homes.”

“Your answer that water is important, I agree,” said Mukherjee. “That is probably the most important service the city can offer its residents. So why is it not a more important priority for this administration or for this city?” In response, Katahwa pointed out that as a past mayoralty candidate Mukherjee has to look at the numbers. “We are investing a lot in our aqueduct infrastructure in the city of Montreal. We’re going to have to invest a lot in the next few years, that’s what makes us an administration that has decided not to ignore the maintenance of our infrastructure and we put a lot, a lot of money into it. When you say it’s not a priority. I admit I don’t understand what you mean.”

After council Mukherjee expressed “surprise that a former health professional has no problems with residents having a little bit of lead in their water. So much for public health!” n

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