Press releases

Côte Saint-Luc, May 9, 2013 -- Paintings, sculptures and other art will be on display in the foyer of the Côte Saint-Luc Aquatic and Community Centre from May 21 to June 17, 2013.

The art is the work of some of the hundreds of adults enrolled in the city’s 12 adult art classes. 

“There are more than 300 registrations per year in our art classes,” Mayor Anthony Housefather said. “The Aquatic and Community Centre is a beautiful building and this exhibit helps it fulfill its mandate as a place where the community comes together not just for sports, but for culture as well.”

The summer session for art classes starts in late May. People can register online or at the Parks and Recreation Department office, 7500 Mackle Rd.

Some of the 12 city art classes include live art, soapstone sculpture, oil, acrylic and watercolour painting, drawing and pastel, mixed media, collage, and 3D art. 

The Aquatic and Community Centre is located at 5794 Parkhaven Ave.

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Media contact: Darryl Levine, Director of Public Affairs and Communications, dlevine@cotesaintluc.org, 514-485-8905.

Côte Saint-Luc, April 30, 2013 – A discussion about how Jackie Robinson broke the major league baseball colour barrier and how his achievements advanced tolerance and understanding takes place on Friday, May 10, 2013 at 10 am at Côte Saint-Luc City Hall, 5801 Cavendish Blvd.

Guest speakers include former Montreal Expos star and head of the Montreal Baseball Project Warren Cromartie; Jack Jedwab, executive  director of the Association of Canadian Studies; and Kermit Kitman, who was part of the Brooklyn Dodgers organization with Robinson 67 years ago and spent four weeks getting to know him during the 1946 spring training. 

The event is hosted by the City of Côte Saint-Luc and the English Montreal School Board. Students from local schools will attend the event. The public is also welcome to attend this free event.

Although there had been African American baseball players as early as the 1880s in the professional leagues, the teams that made up professional baseball eventually agreed unofficially to stop using black players. In November 1945, Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey broke with convention and signed Robinson to a contract. Robinson played for Dodgers triple-A team, the Montreal Royals in 1946. He debuted with the Dodgers in 1947 and was selected as the Rookie of the Year. Robinson was the National League’s Most Valuable player in 1949, and helped the Dodgers win the World Series in 1955. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

“Having been involved in the sports world all of my life I cannot remember a time when black athletes did not make up a high percentage of major leaguers,” said Councillor Mike Cohen, who will co-chair the event with Councillor Allan J. Levine. “But you only need to go back 60 years to know a time when there were no black players in Major League Baseball. Jackie Robinson changed history in a tangible way.”

Councillor Levine said that this event is part of ensuring that local schools find a way to bring Robinson’s inspiring life story part of the classroom curriculum. The Eleanor London Côte Saint-Luc Public Library will present a formal display of books about Jackie Robinson.

On July 1, 2013, Côte Saint-Luc will unveil a plaque honouring Robinson on the city’s Human Rights Walkway at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Park.

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Media contact: Darryl Levine, Director of Public Affairs and Communications, 514-485-8905, dlevine@cotesaintluc.org

Côte Saint-Luc, April 25, 2013 – The annual Côte Saint-Luc Blood Donor Clinic is on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 from 1:15 pm to 8 pm at the municipal Gymnasium at 7500 Mackle Rd.

“We are celebrating our seventh anniversary on May 7 – our champagne anniversary,” said Councillor Ruth Kovac, a long-time blood donor who is the co-chair of the event. “We are fortunate to have Dr. Michael Wiseman co-chair this clinic. Dr. Wiseman will be making his 99th donation at our clinic.”

Anyone who is at least 18 years old and in good health can donate blood once every 56 days, which is six times per year. 

“Only 3 percent of Quebecers who are eligible to donate blood actually give,” said Dr. Wiseman, a dental surgeon at Centre Dentaire Aux Beaux Sourires on Westminster Rd. “That number is too low, especially as the need in hospitals is always so great. I encourage all my colleagues in the medical field who work or live nearby to come and by and make a donation.”

Review the donor qualifications at www.hema-quebec.qc.ca or call 1-800-343-4264. The four most common blood types are 0 blood (46 percent), A blood (42 percent), B blood (9 percent) and AB blood (3 percent).

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For more information: Darryl Levine, Director of Public Affairs and Communications, 514-485-8905, dlevine@cotesaintluc.org

Côte Saint-Luc, April 17, 2013 - The media is invited to a press conference where the City of Côte Saint-Luc will announce a comprehensive urban agriculture initiative. 

This initiative is intended to entice and empower residents to take an active role in the growing of their own food and will make them more knowledgeable and savvy food consumers, and hopefully, healthier overall. Côte Saint-Luc will also unveil its Food Charter, a first on the Island of Montreal. 

Following the press conference, city representatives will be available for interviews. 

Date: Thursday, April 18, 2013

Time: 10:30 am

Location: Côte Saint-Luc City Hall, 5801 Cavendish Blvd., Côte Saint-Luc, Quebec, City Hall Council Chamber, second floor

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For more information: Darryl Levine, Director of Public Affairs, Communications and IT, 514-485-8905 or dlevine@cotesaintluc.org

Côte Saint-Luc, February 13, 2013 — The city councils of more than 50 municipalities and boroughs with bilingual status have adopted resolutions stating their desire to keep their bilingual status irrespective of whether their mother tongue English-speaking population falls below 50 percent.

Each resolution declares the city or borough’s opposition to the provisions set out in the Parti Québécois’ proposed Bill 14 which would allow for the status to be removed against the will of the local elected council.

“The speed at which municipalities have adopted and continue to adopt these pro-bilingual status resolution illustrates how important this issue is to the cities, towns, and boroughs concerned,” said Mayor Anthony Housefather, who has played a leading role in this movement together with his fellow mayors at the Association of Suburban Municipalities, or ASM. “We’re optimistic that these resolutions along with calls to Members of the National Assembly from mayors, councillors, and the general public, is having an impact.  We intend to present them at the public hearings.”

Bill 14, or An Act to amend the Charter of the French language, the Charter of human rights and freedoms and other legislative provisions, was tabled by the Parti Québécois minority government in December. The National Assembly Committee on Culture and Education will be holding hearings starting in March. Mayor Housefather and Town of Mount Royal Mayor Philippe Roy will speak on behalf of the ASM, but will also be representing the position of other municipalities and boroughs with bilingual status, including parts of the south shore of Montreal, the north shore of Laval, the Eastern Townships, the Gaspé, the Magdalen Islands, the Laurentians and the Outaouais.

“We encourage the public to e-mail or tweet their Member of the National Assembly and, in particular, the leaders of the Liberal Party of Quebec and Coalition Avenir Québec,” Mayor Housefather said. “These e-mail and Twitter addresses are listed at BilingualStatus.com and StatutBilingue.com.”

There are 83 municipalities and three boroughs with bilingual status in Quebec, which is just 6 percent of all municipalities in Quebec.

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Media contact: Darryl Levine, Director of Public Affairs and Communications, dlevine@cotesaintluc.org, 514-485-8905.

Côte Saint-Luc, February 7, 2013 – The City of Côte Saint-Luc has nominated and will present Dr. Marc Afilalo and Roy Salomon with Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals at the start of the council meeting on February 11, 2013 at 8 pm.

Dr. Marc Afilalo has been nominated for this award for his contribution in the field of emergency medicine. Chief of the Emergency Department at the Jewish General Hospital for the past 27 years, Dr. Afilalo has become a reference in the field of overcrowding, use and misuse of the Emergency Department, acute asthma management, pain control, treatment of unstable angina and myocardial infarct. He is also largely credited for the recognition and development of emergency medicine as a specialty in Quebec.

Roy Salomon has been nominated for his long time involvement with Maccabi Canada, from player to eight-term president of the organization. Mr. Salomon has received numerous awards for his volunteer contribution to the sports community. He is this year’s Honourary Co-President of the Maccabiah Games in Israel. He has also been Vice-President and Honourary President of the YM-YWHA, received the Norah and Joe Rubin Leadership Award for 50 years of involvement with the organization, and is a 2001 recipient of the prestigious Yakir Maccabi Award. In 1995, he was inducted to the Montreal Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

“We are proud that these two deserving individuals are Côte Saint-Luc residents,” Mayor Anthony Housefather said. “They are both uncontestedly leaders in their respective fields who have realized significant contributions and achievements.”

Côte Saint-Luc will also be acknowledging Councillor Dida Berku who has received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of her community service and her initiatives in helping preserve the natural environment. Councillor Berku was nominated for this medal by Senator Judith Seidman.

“I’ve known Dida since 1994 and she is a worthy recipient of this medal,” said Mayor Anthony Housefather. “It is rare to find someone who combines the precision of an attorney, the political smarts of an elected representative, and the passion of an environmentalist.  She is someone whose advice and counsel I rely upon.”

The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal was created to mark the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne. The medal is intended to honour individuals who have given selflessly in service of their communities. During the year of celebrations, 60,000 deserving Canadians will be recognized. Côte Saint-Luc was invited to nominate two recipients.

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Media contact: Darryl Levine, Director of Public Affairs and Communications, 514-485-8905, dlevine@cotesaintluc.org.

Côte Saint-Luc, January 31, 2013 – The City of Côte Saint-Luc will induct Jackie Robinson to the city’s Human Rights Walkway on July 1, 2013 during the Canada Day celebrations at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Park.

“Although the understanding of racial equality has advanced a great deal since Jackie Robinson broke the major league colour barrier, his achievements in advancing tolerance and understanding through the world of sport deserves to be honoured,” Mayor Anthony Housefather said.

Although there had been African American baseball players as late as the 1880s in the professional leagues, the teams that made up professional baseball eventually agreed unofficially to stop using black players. In November 1945, the Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey broke with convention and signed Robinson to a contract. Robinson played for Dodger’s triple-A team, the Montreal Royals in 1946. He debuted with the Dodgers in 1947 and was selected as the Rookie of the Year. Robinson was the National League’s Most Valuable player in 1949, and helped the Dodgers win the World Series in 1955. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

“Having been involved in the sports world all of my life I cannot remember a time when black athletes did not make up a high percentage of major leaguers,” said Councillor Mike Cohen, who will co-chair the event with Councillor Allan J. Levine. “But you only need to go back 60 years to know a time when there were no black players in Major League Baseball. Jackie Robinson changed history in a tangible way.”

Councillor Levine said he hopes that local schools will find a way to bring Robinson’s inspiring life story part of the classroom curriculum, beginning in February, which is Black History Month in Canada. The Eleanor London Côte Saint-Luc Public Library will present a formal display of books about Jackie Robinson during the month of February.

Hollywood will also pay homage to Robinson this year with the release in April of the motion picture “42”, starring Harrison Ford as Dodgers owner Branch Rickey and Chadwick Boseman as Robinson.

Former Montreal Expo Warren Cromartie, and president of the Montreal Baseball Project, will partner with the city to honour Robinson. He is scheduled to attend the ceremony on July 1, 2013. More details on the event will be released as the event approaches.

Inaugurated in September 2000, the Côte Saint-Luc Human Rights Walkway is dedicated to those men and women who, by their steadfast commitment to mankind, have held high the torch of human rights and let it light the world. Previous inductees include René Cassin, John P. Humphrey, Raoul Wallenberg, Jules Deschênes, Maxwell Cohen, Mary Two-Axe Early, Helen Suzman, Antonio Lamer, Miep Gies, Human Rights Activists for Oppressed Jews in ForeignLands, and Aung San Suu Kyi.

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Media contact: Darryl Levine, Director of Public Affairs and Communications, 514-485-8905, dlevine@cotesaintluc.org.