V-E Day commemoration ceremony in Côte Saint-Luc on Sunday, May 5, 2013

Royal Canadian Legion (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Members of the Brigadier Frederick Kisch Branch 97 of the Royal Canadian Legion, Mayor Anthony Housefather, the Côte Saint-Luc city council, dignitaries, veterans and residents will commemorate Victory in Europe (V-E) Day on Sunday, May 5 at 2 pm at Veterans Park.

 

“My generation and those of my children and grandchildren will never be able to fully pay back the Canadian soldiers who fought to defeat tyranny during the Second World War,” said Ruth Kovac, who is the co-chairperson of this event with Councillor Allan J. Levine. “By liberating Europe our veterans also ended the genocide against the Jewish population of Europe and others targeted by the Nazis.”

 

VE Day parade in Cote Saint-Luc 2008

Councillor Levine said we must continue to honour those who have served and those families who lost loved ones for our country.

 

“I encourage everyone to come on May 5 and show support for our veterans who still continue to do so much for our community and look after their own,” Councillor Levine said. “Indeed, this year our veterans raised more than $31,000 during last November’s Poppy Fund Campaign. Those funds were then returned to the community through donations to local organisations, such as the Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation, the Royal Victoria Hospital, the Jewish General Hospital, the Salvation Army, the Old Brewery Mission and many others.”

 

Cote Saint-Luc cenotaph in Veteran’s Park

Victory in Europe (V-E) Day was May 8, 1945, the date when the Second World War Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany. The cenotaph at Veterans Park honours the memory of those who gave their lives in the First World War, the Second World War and the Korean War.

 

VE Day 2008: Mayor and City Council with Parade Marshall Bob Feldstein in CSL Veterans Park

This year’s commemoration will be conducted by Brigadier Frederick Kisch Branch 97 President, Frank Levine. Veterans Park is located next to the City Hall and library (5801 Cavendish Blvd.) In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held indoors at the City Hall.

George Nashen in front of the Cote Saint-Luc cenotaph in Veterans Park on VE Day 2012

Côte Saint-Luc launches first-in-Quebec urban agriculture initiative

The City of Côte Saint-Luc unveiled today its food charter and action plan to transform the mostly residential suburb into an urban agriculture leader in Quebec.

Urban agriculture is the practice of growing food in or around a city. The Côte Saint-Luc Grown urban agriculture action plan announced at a press conference at City Hall includes the creation of a demonstration garden behind the City Hall/Library complex to teach gardening skills to adults and children, edible landscaping on city property, new community gardens, a farmers’ market, and the distribution of food boxes.

“The goal is to entice and empower our residents to take an active role in the growing of their own food to make them more knowledgeable and savvy food consumers, and hopefully, healthier overall,” Mayor Anthony Housefather said. “In a short time, we have put together programming that will help contribute to personal and community wellness, now and for the future.”

In addition to the action plan, Côte Saint-Luc also unveiled its food charter, which is a statement of values and principles to guide the food policy. The goals of the food charter are wellness, the creation of great places, community building, food security, the joy of growing food, sustainability and more.

The action plan and food charter are available at CSLGrown.org.

“Over the coming weeks and months, residents of all ages will have the opportunity to participate in urban agriculture, in whatever ways suits their lifestyle,” Mayor Housefather said. “They can sign up for a space in one of our new community gardens or plant their own backyard or balcony garden. They can participate in gardening classes at the library or learn at the demonstration garden. People can shop at the Côte Saint-Luc farmers’ market, or sign up to get a food basket, and more.”

Cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Chicago have already embraced urban agriculture.

“There has been a rising concern about where our food comes from over the last few years, which has led people to get more engaged with what they eat,” said City Manager Tanya Abramovitch. “Urban agriculture is not a passing fad, but rather something that more and more urbanites are demanding. It is the future. Côte Saint-Luc City Council recognized this reality and mandated me to make Côte Saint-Luc a leader in urban agriculture.”

In February, Côte Saint-Luc launched a survey to gauge interest for a farmers’ market. More than 700 people responded to the survey and the city’s Facebook post on the subject received the most likes, shares, and positive comments of any item the city has ever posted.

Watch more on CTV News

CTV News report, 6pm

http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/video?playlistId=1.1244499

http://youtu.be/PtmcEN5pRE8

Global News report, 6pm

http://globalnews.ca/news/492959/montreal-borough-cote-saint-luc-goes-green/

http://youtu.be/VFE_-s8l4_E

The Gazette

http://www.montrealgazette.com/travel/Urban+agriculture+boost+C%C3%B4te/8262634/story.html

Une première au Québec : Côte Saint-Luc lance une initiative d’agriculture urbaine

La Ville de Côte Saint-Luc a dévoilé aujourd’hui sa Charte alimentaire et son plan d’action pour faire de cette banlieue avant tout résidentielle un chef de file au Québec en matière d’agriculture urbaine.

L’agriculture urbaine est la pratique qui consiste à produire des aliments en ville et dans les environs. Annoncé lors d’une conférence de presse qui avait lieu à l’hôtel de ville, le plan d’action pour l’agriculture urbaine Cultivé à Côte Saint-Luc comporte plusieurs volets, comme la création d’un jardin de démonstration derrière le complexe de l’hôtel de ville et de la bibliothèque pour l’enseignement des techniques de jardinage aux adultes et aux enfants, les paysages comestibles dans les espaces publics, de nouveaux jardins communautaires, un marché public, et la distribution de paniers de produits alimentaires locaux.

« L’objectif est d’inciter nos résidants à jouer un rôle actif dans la production de leurs propres aliments et de les aider à le faire afin qu’ils soient mieux renseignés et plus avisés pour faire des choix alimentaires sains et, nous l’espérons, améliorer leur santé en général, a dit le maire Anthony Housefather. En peu de temps, nous avons préparé une programmation qui contribuera au bien-être personnel et communautaire. »

En plus du plan d’action, Côte Saint-Luc a également dévoilé sa Charte alimentaire dans laquelle sont énoncés les valeurs et les principes servant à orienter la politique alimentaire. Les objectifs de la Charte alimentaire sont, notamment, le mieux-être, la création de lieux agréables, le renforcement de la communauté, la sécurité alimentaire, le plaisir du jardinage, et le soutien d’une culture axée sur la durabilité.

On peut consulter le plan d’action et la charte alimentaire à CultiveaCSL.org.

« Dans les semaines et les mois à venir, les résidants de tous âges auront la possibilité de participer à l’agriculture urbaine, de la manière qui convient le mieux à leur style de vie, a ajouté le maire Housefather. Ils pourront réserver un espace dans un de nos jardins communautaires ou aménager un potager dans leur cour ou sur leur balcon. Ils pourront suivre des cours de jardinage à la bibliothèque ou assister à des ateliers au jardin de démonstration. Les gens pourront aussi venir acheter des produits au marché public ou s’inscrire pour obtenir un panier de provisions, et plus encore. »

D’autres villes comme Toronto, Vancouver et Chicago ont déjà adopté l’agriculture urbaine.

« Depuis quelques années, on s’inquiète de plus en plus de la provenance de nos aliments, ce qui incite les gens à s’intéresser davantage à ce qu’ils mangent, a souligné la directrice générale Tanya Abramovitch. L’agriculture urbaine n’est pas une mode passagère, c’est vraiment quelque chose que de plus en plus de citadins réclament. C’est l’avenir. Le conseil municipal a compris cette réalité et il m’a demandé de faire de Côte Saint-Luc un chef de file en matière d’agriculture urbaine. »

En février, Côte Saint-Luc a entrepris un sondage pour évaluer l’intérêt que pouvait susciter un marché public. Plus de 700 personnes ont répondu au sondage, et le message Facebook sur le sujet a reçu plus de « J’aime », de « Partager » et de commentaires positifs que toutes les nouvelles affichées par la Ville jusqu’ici.

International Driving Permit (IDP) in Florida: CAA-Quebec confirms the law’s repeal

International Driving Permit (IDP) in Florida: CAA-Quebec confirms the law’s repeal

 

QUEBEC CITY, April 2, 2013 – Now that Florida authorities have finally set aside the new requirement for all foreign drivers to hold a valid International Driving Permit (IDP), CAA-Quebec is pleased and relieved to see that the efforts of recent weeks have paid off. In fact, the Governor of Florida signed just today the document officializing the legislative changes.

 

“We welcome this return to normal and wish to inform all Quebecers who are preparing for a stay in Florida that there is no longer a legal obligation to have an IDP to drive there,” says Sophie Gagnon, Assistant Vice President, Public and Government Relations, for CAA-Quebec. In February the organization learned, to its great astonishment, about the quiet introduction of this measure effective January 1, 2013, with no prior announcement.

 

CAA-Quebec quickly reacted, joining forces with the Canadian and American Automobile Associations (CAA/AAA) to condemn this measure and have it changed. Today, it is delighted with this turnabout, which demonstrates that Sunshine State authorities are giving due consideration to the importance of the many visitors — including hundreds of thousands of Quebecers — to its large tourism industry.

 

“The adoption and implementation of this legislative change creates a much clearer and more reassuring context than the tolerance that local authorities had been asking for, up to now, from those responsible for enforcing the law,” Ms. Gagnon explains. “The CAA in fact reported some isolated cases of people having had problems because of this situation. So we are very satisfied and can assert that CAA-Quebec contributed to this happy outcome by taking part in the decisive joint action of the CAA and AAA.”

 

The IDP is a piece of identification that complements a local driving licence and that serves essentially as a recognized official translation in some 10 languages. It is very useful — and even mandatory — for many destinations. CAA-Quebec is the organization authorized by the government to issue IDPs in Quebec.

 

CAA-Quebec, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1904, provides automotive, travel, residential and financial services and privileges to its 1,210,000 members.

 

New Cote Saint-Luc high school to be named after Swedish hero

The English Montreal School Board (EMSB) Council of Commissioners has confirmed that a proposed new high school in Côte Saint-Luc will be named Wallenberg Academy. It will begin operations for the 2014-2015 academic year, provided an optimum number of 60 students enrol next fall.

EMSB Chairman Angela Mancini stated that unlike previous attempts to bring a new mainstream high school to the former Wagar High School facility, now called the Giovanni Palatucci Facility, plans call for an appropriate window to be given to introduce an enriched curriculum and an open house in early fall 2013. The new school would cohabitate with John Grant High School, Marymount Adult Education Centre, the CARE Program and the EMSB Book Processing Centre.

The EMSB ran a successful name the school contest last fall and early winter. Commissioner Syd Wise, who heads the task force studying the option, notes that there was a natural connection between the names of Palatucci and Wallenberg. Palatucci was an Italian police official who saved thousands of Jews during the Holocaust. Raoul Wallenberg was a Swedish diplomat who saved tens of thousands of Jews in Nazi-occupied Hungary. Consideration was also given to naming the school after two distinguished Montrealers, the late poet Irving Layton and the late writer Mordecai Richler.

It is the intent of the EMSB to start the school with Secondary I students. The school concept has the full cooperation of the City of Cote Saint-Luc and Mayor Anthony Housefather, who sits on the task force. Plans call for sports concentration, heritage languages and enriched science, English and music programs to be offered.

A public information meeting will be held in May for parents and an open house next fall, followed by a registration period.

For more information call 514-483-7200 ext. 7429.

Momentum building, 50 municipalities adopt pro-bilingual status resolutions

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.

Related articles

• Council speaks out against Bill 14, supports bilingual status quo (gjnashen.wordpress.com)
• Municipalities fight to keep bilingual status (cbc.ca)
• CSL takes leadership role opposing Bill 14 language law (gjnashen.wordpress.com)

More: Bilingual Status In The News

City of Côte Saint-Luc to present Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals to Dr. Marc Afilalo and Roy Salomon

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 Hosp

ital for the past 27 years, Dr. Afilalo has become a reference in the field of overcr

owding, use and misuse of the Emergency Department, acute asthma mana

geme

nt, 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.

Kid-friendly Winter Carnival Day on February 10, 2013 in Côte Saint-Luc

The main attraction of the Côte Saint-Luc Winter Carnival is on Sunday, February 10, 2013 at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Park, where people will enjoy a free pancake breakfast, horse drawn carriage rides, inflatable games and more.

Other kid-friendly activities include taffy on snow, snowshoeing, kicksledding, tobogganing on the hill, a puppet show, face painting, a Scouts presentation, and snow games.

The Côte Saint-Luc Winter Carnival runs from Wednesday, February 6 to Saturday, February 16, 2013 and also includes a hockey tournament, a figure-skating exhibition, a Valentine dance, and movie screening for seniors. The full schedule is available at www.CoteSaintLuc.org/WinterCarnival2013.

All Côte Saint-Luc Winter Carnival events are free except for the public skating event on February 9, 2013 and the Valentine Dance on February 16, 2013. The entrance fee for public skating is $5 (or free with a Fun Card). Proceeds from the public skating event and donations will go to Ronald McDonald House. Tickets for the Valentine dance are $25 in advance or $28 at the door.

The event co-chairpersons are councillors Mitchell Brownstein and Allan J. Levine.

Related articles

• Love is in the air (gjnashen.wordpress.com)

 

CSL takes leadership role opposing Bill 14 language law

With Côte Saint-Luc certainly taking the lead, municipalities with bilingual status are adopting resolutions affirming their desire to retain their bilingual status and opposing Bill 14, which would give the Quebec government the power to unilaterally remove this status against the will of the municipality or borough concerned.

“If the bill becomes law, more than half of the 84 municipalities and boroughs that have bilingual status might lose it,” said Mayor Anthony Housefather of Côte Saint-Luc. “It is unconscionable that the Parti Québécois government amended the legislation in 2000 to define who is an English-speaker in the narrowest possible way and now wants to use those misleading numbers to unilaterally remove bilingual status.”

Since 1977, it have been illegal for municipalities to, among other things, send a bilingual tax bill, erect bilingual signage, or send a bilingual memo to city workers. However, an exception was made under Section 29.1 of the Charter of the French Language, commonly referred to as bilingual status, for municipalities where a majority of residents spoke a language other than French. In 2000, another Parti Québécois government adopted Bill 171, which drastically changed the criteria to obtain bilingual status from a majority of residents of a municipality or borough who spoke a language other than French to a majority of residents whose mother tongue was English.

This revised criteria was imposed without consulting municipalities and boroughs, and adopted the narrowest and most inaccurate definition of the English-speaking communities.

Bill 14, tabled by the new Parti Québécois minority government, would allow for the potential removal of bilingual status from municipalities or boroughs by decree–and against the will of the municipality or borough concerned, its duly elected council and its residents—if less than 50 percent of residents are mother tongue English-speaking.

Of the 1,476 cities and towns and boroughs in Quebec, only 84—or 6 percent—have bilingual status.

I am urging readers to please go to www.bilingualstatus.com and from there write a letter to your Member of the National Assembly, requesting that they vote against this law.

An interview with Mayor Housefather on Bill 14 on CBC Radio One is available on Mike Cohen’s blog.

 

Global News:  Côte St-Luc Mayor launches website to rally Quebecers against Bill 14

Related articles

• Council speaks out against Bill 14, supports bilingual status quo (gjnashen.wordpress.com)
• Letter to the Gazette Editor: Lisée’s comments on Bill 14 fail to comfort (gjnashen.wordpress.com)
• Bill 14 could affect city’s bilingual status, mayor says (cbc.ca)

First five bilingual municipalities adopt resolutions opposing Bill 14’s provisions on removing bilingual status

Côte Saint-Luc, December 18, 2012 – The first five municipalities with bilingual status adopted resolutions yesterday affirming their desire to retain their bilingual status and opposing Bill 14, which would give the Quebec government the power to unilaterally remove this status against the will of the municipality or borough concerned.

The municipalities that adopted the resolution yesterday include the City of Côte Saint-Luc, the Town of Hampstead, the Town of Montreal West, the Town of Mount Royal and the Town of Senneville. It is anticipated that cities, towns and boroughs with bilingual status across the province will adopt the resolution prior to the legislative hearings on Bill 14.

“If the bill becomes law, more than half of the 84 municipalities and boroughs that have bilingual status might lose it,” said Mayor Anthony Housefather of Côte Saint-Luc. “It is unconscionable that the Parti Québécois government amended the legislation in 2000 to define who is an English-speaker in the narrowest possible way and now wants to use those misleading numbers to unilaterally remove bilingual status.”

Since 1977, it have been illegal for municipalities to, among other things, send a bilingual tax bill, erect bilingual signage, or send a bilingual memo to city workers. However, an exception was made under Section 29.1 of the Charter of the French Language, commonly referred to as bilingual status, for municipalities where a majority of residents spoke a language other than French. In 2000, another Parti Québécois government adopted Bill 171, which drastically changed the criteria to obtain bilingual status from a majority of residents of a municipality or borough who spoke a language other than French to a majority of residents whose mother tongue was English.

This revised criteria was imposed without consulting municipalities and boroughs, and adopted the narrowest and most inaccurate definition of the English-speaking communities.

“The criteria for who is English-speaking is ridiculously restrictive,” said Mayor William Steinberg of the Town of Hampstead. “You could live in English, speak to your kids in English, consider yourself to be English-speaking. But if 50 years ago your mom spoke to you in Italian, or Yiddish, or Greek, when you were a toddler, then the government says you are not English speaking when it comes to a municipality or borough being eligible for bilingual status.”

Bill 14, tabled by the new Parti Québécois minority government, would allow for the potential removal of bilingual status from municipalities or boroughs by decree–and against the will of the municipality or borough concerned, its duly elected council and its residents—if less than 50 percent of residents are mother tongue English speaking.

“We believe the proposed law is an attack on the fundamental rights and intrinsic character of all municipalities and boroughs that currently possess bilingual status,” said Mayor Philippe Roy of the Town of Mount Royal.

Of the 1,476 cities and towns and boroughs in Quebec, only 84—or 6 percent—have bilingual status.

The cities that passed resolutions affirmed that they view bilingual status as fundamental to the character of the municipality and as a testament of the historical presence of both the English- and French-speaking communities in the municipality.

Copies of the resolution are available here or at CoteSaintLuc.org.

Related articles

• Letter to the Gazette Editor: Lisée’s comments on Bill 14 fail to comfort (gjnashen.wordpress.com)

 

Cinq premières municipalités adoptent des résolutions manifestant leur opposition aux dispositions du projet de loi 14 sur le statut bilingue

 

18 déc 2012

Côte Saint-Luc, le 18 décembre 2012 – Les cinq premières municipalités ont adopté, hier, une résolution affirmant leur désir de conserver leur statut bilingue et de s’opposer au projet de loi 14, qui autoriserait le gouvernement du Québec à révoquer unilatéralement ce statut contre la volonté de la municipalité ou de l’arrondissement en question.

Les municipalités qui ont adopté la résolution hier sont la Ville de Côte Saint-Luc, la Ville de Hampstead, la Ville de Montréal-Ouest, la Ville de Mont-Royal et le Village de Senneville. On s’attend à ce que d’autres villes, cités et arrondissements de la province ayant un statut bilingue adoptent aussi une résolution semblable avant la tenue des débats sur le projet de loi 14.

« Si le projet de loi devient loi, plus de la moitié des 84 municipalités et arrondissements qui possèdent un statut bilingue risquent de le perdre, a précisé le maire de Côte Saint-Luc, Anthony Housefather. Il est inadmissible que le gouvernement du Parti québécois ait modifié la loi en 2000 pour imposer la définition la plus étroite possible d’une personne d’expression anglaise, et qu’il veuille maintenant utiliser ces chiffres trompeurs pour retirer unilatéralement les statuts bilingues. »

Depuis 1977, il est illégal pour une municipalité, entre autres choses, d’envoyer un avis d’imposition bilingue, d’ériger une signalisation bilingue, ou d’envoyer un message bilingue aux employés municipaux. Une exception a toutefois été établie en vertu de l’article 29.1 de la Charte de la langue française, communément appelée le statut bilingue, pour les municipalités dont la majorité des résidants parlent une langue autre que le français. En 2000, un autre gouvernement du Parti québécois a adopté le projet de loi 171, qui a modifié considérablement le critère d’obtention du statut bilingue : d’une majorité de résidants d’une municipalité ou d’un arrondissement parlant une langue autre que le français, à une majorité de résidants dont la langue maternelle est l’anglais.

Le critère révisé a été imposé sans consultation auprès des municipalités et des arrondissements, et l’on a adopté la définition de la communauté de langue anglaise la plus étroite et la plus inexacte.

« Le critère servant à déterminer qui est de langue anglaise est extrêmement restrictif, a soutenu le maire de la Ville de Hampstead, William Steinberg. Peu importe si vous vivez en anglais, si vous parlez à vos enfants en anglais, et si vous vous considérez comme anglophone, si votre mère vous a parlé en italien, ou encore en yiddish ou en grec il y a 50 ans quand vous n’étiez qu’un enfant, le gouvernement affirme que vous n’êtes pas anglophone dès qu’il est question de la reconnaissance du statut bilingue à une municipalité ou un arrondissement. »

Le projet de loi 14, déposé par le nouveau gouvernement minoritaire du Parti québécois, permettrait le retrait potentiel du statut bilingue aux municipalités ou aux arrondissements, par décret et contre la volonté de la municipalité ou de l’arrondissement, de son conseil dûment élu et de ses résidants – si moins de 50 pour cent de ses résidants sont de langue maternelle anglaise.

« Nous croyons que la loi proposée est une attaque aux droits fondamentaux et au caractère intrinsèque des municipalités et des arrondissements qui possèdent présentement un statut bilingue », a affirmé pour sa part le maire de la Ville de Mont-Royal, Philippe Roy.

Pour près des 1 500 cités et villes et arrondissements au Québec, seulement 84 – ou 6 pour cent – possèdent un statut bilingue.

Les villes qui ont adopté des résolutions ont affirmé qu’elles considéraient le statut bilingue comme essentiel au caractère de la municipalité et comme un témoignage de la présence historique des communautés anglophones et francophones dans leur municipalité.

Le texte de la résolution est accessible ici ou à CoteSaintLuc.org.

Related articles

• Letter to the Gazette Editor: Lisée’s comments on Bill 14 fail to comfort (gjnashen.wordpress.com)
• Quebec municipalities would not lose bilingual status automatically if anglo population falls below 50 per cent: Lisée (gjnashen.wordpress.com)

Update on Hydro Quebec work on Fleet Rd.

 

City Communique:

 

Last week, the Hydro Quebec project on Fleet Rd. was put on hold when their sub-contractor discovered a ruptured high voltage cable in the excavation. The Quebec workplace health and safety board (CSST) ordered the work to stop until the situation has been fixed.

 

 

 

Work resumed on Wednesday, October 17, 2012. We have asked Hydro Quebec to make up lost time and they have agreed to add additional manpower in order to have all the work complete by November 30, 2012.

 

 

 

Also, we expect to be able to re-open an additional eastbound lane (towards Décarie Blvd.) by Monday, October 29, 2012.

Update on Hydro Quebec work on Fleet Rd..

Côte Saint-Luc looking for more volunteer patrollers

The Côte Saint-Luc volunteer Citizens on Patrol are recruiting new members for the largest municipally based public safety program in Quebec.

Residents interested in joining vCOP should come to an information session on Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 7 pm at Côte Saint-Luc City Hall (5801 Cavendish Blvd.). They should bring identification and a completed copy of the application form available at http://www.CoteSaintLuc.org/en/vcop.

“Côte Saint-Luc was the first city in Quebec to implement this neighbourhood-watch-on-wheels program,” Mayor Anthony Housefather said.

CSL launches eco-friendly COP Scooter Patrol

“Members work in teams patrolling city streets, parks, playgrounds and buildings at any hour of day and night,” said Councillor Glenn J. Nashen, the council member responsible for Public Safety. “They are also present at community events and available to assist at major emergencies.”

Since the program was launched in July 2006, volunteers have patrolled 170,000 kilometres—which is half the distance between Earth and the moon, and logged more than 30,000 hours. The volunteer force now number 83 people. Volunteers are given training to spot potential problems and to notify Côte Saint-Luc Public Security or the police.

Supervisor Susie Schwartz with husband/patroller Harvey

The vCOP fleet includes four minivans, four electric scooters, two electric bicycles, and two regular bicycles.

Volunteers are required to make a minimum commitment of six hours per month although many patrol much more. While vCOP members are 18 years of age and over there is a cadet program for 16 and 17 year olds. There is a one-time membership fee of $75 to defray the costs of uniforms and accessories. Training in patrol techniques, radio communications, first-aid, CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator are provided.

For more information or to join the vCOP program, please call 514-485-6800, send an e-mail to vcop@CoteSaintLuc.org, or visit http://www.CoteSaintLuc.org/en/vcop.

Connecting Côte Saint-Luc to the hospital district

The City of Côte Saint-Luc and the Jewish General Hospital, in collaboration with Mobiligo and the Centre de gestion des déplacements de developpement économique Saint-Laurent (CGD DESTL) announced today a project to improve commuting to medical facilities in the Côte-des-Neiges district for the residents, workers and users. The goal of the project is to encourage single occupancy vehicle users to shift to environmentally-friendly transport practices, such as public transit, carpooling, walking and biking.

A survey of hospital employees is currently underway concerning their transportation needs to identify convenient options that could be offered to them, other than traveling alone in their car. Access to healthcare is more than having a family doctor; it is also being able to get to the doctor’s office without causing an impact on our health and our community environment.

Councillor Dida Berku and her mother are both eager for a shuttle between Cote saint-Luc and the hospital district in Cote des Neiges

In a context where the Jewish General Hospital is building new facilities, which will require more staff at a time when less parking spots are available due to construction, and since the hospital will be in a position to offer more healthcare services to the population, looking into the means of transportation used by the employees as well as the users seemed the right thing to do for the two partners involved in the project.

Mobiligo and CGD DESTL, will conduct a survey in order to identify the transportation needs of the employees and users commuting between Côte Saint-Luc and the medical facilities located in the Côte-des-Neiges district, such as the Jewish General Hospital, CHU Sainte-Justine and St. Mary’s Hospital Centre.

The Montreal Steering Committee on Seniors welcomes this initiative which will help support the needs of the ageing population in terms of transportation to and from the various healthcare services provided in the area.

“This project is an important initiative which will benefit the whole community, by providing much relief in a very congested area”, says Anthony Housefather, Mayor of Côte Saint-Luc. “It is an important step towards developing and offering sustainable options of transport to our residents.”

“The Jewish General Hospital is pleased to support this initiative, which will provide sustainable transport to the Côte-des-Neiges community,” says Glenn J. Nashen, Director of Communications at the Jewish General Hospital. “By promoting this shift from private to public transport, we hope to relieve some of the stress caused by congestion in the area, as well as aim to improve air quality, reduce noise pollution and limit greenhouse gas emissions for the betterment of the neighborhood.”

Alternative transportation advocates at the press conference to launch a city wide survey

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City of Montreal pulls the plug on Cavendish again

Côte Saint-Luc, September 14, 2012 – Only six months after announcing the Blue Bonnets agreement, which included the funding for Cavendish Blvd. road extension project, the City of Montreal has reneged on its undertaking and put the project on the back burner.

In March 2012, the City of Montreal and the Quebec government signed an agreement to transfer the Blue Bonnets race track land to the City of Montreal. One of the conditions of the transfer was an undertaking by the City of Montreal to set aside $44 million for phase 1 of the Cavendish Blvd. road extension project in its three-year Capital Works Budget. This agreement was ratified by the unanimous vote of the Montreal City Council on March 26, 2012.

Notwithstanding this undertaking in the agreement to set aside $44 million for this project and notwithstanding the unanimous resolution of Montreal City Council ratifying the agreement, the Tremblay administration has withdrawn the Cavendish Blvd. road extension project from the proposed three-year Capital Works Budget for 2013-2015, even though it was included in the last year’s three year budget (2012-2014). The proposed budget—without the funds for the Cavendish Blvd. road extension project—will be presented to Montreal City Council for adoption on September 20, 2012.

“The City of Côte Saint-Luc has worked very hard with our neighbouring cities and boroughs to convince the Tremblay administration that the Cavendish extension be made a priority,” said Anthony Housefather, Mayor of Côte Saint-Luc. “We worked with the local Liberal MNAs to find means of funding the project and over the last six months the announcements related to the Blue Bonnets site had pushed the project forward. The proposal by the City of Montreal to remove these amounts from the PTI is a complete reversal of commitments made only months ago and is completely unacceptable to those living and working in the west end and West Island of Montreal.  We will use all means at our disposal to oppose this reversal.”

As well, the new Capital Works Budget does not provide for the completion of the feasibility studies that the City of Montreal also undertook to do. Since 2005, it has spent $2.5 million on these studies but so far has refused to make them public and now is refusing to complete them.

“This omission is in total violation of the Blue Bonnets agreement and the unanimous vote of Montreal City Council,” said Côte Saint-Luc Councillor Dida Berku. “This flies in the face of the will of all the councils of the boroughs of St. Laurent, CDN-NDG and cities of Côte Saint-Luc, Town of Mount Royal, Hampstead, and Dollard des Ormeaux, which have systematically called for the extension of Cavendish to be included in the Agglomeration of Montreal Transport Plan and in the Capital Works Budget of the City of Montreal. As well it flies in the face of the conditions in the Blue Bonnets agreement with the Quebec government and is a reversal of the public commitments and pronouncements of the Tremblay administration, made six months ago.”

When the Blue Bonnets agreement was announced, Minister Raymond Bachand said that one of the conditions of the transfer was that the proceeds would be used to finance the Cavendish Blvd. road extension project and that the City of Montreal would commit to proceeding with the feasibility studies in order to advance this project.

“We encourage residents to attend the meeting at Montreal City Hall on Thursday, September 20 and voice their concerns during question period,” said Councillor Berku.

Copies of the Blue Bonnets agreement, the 2012-2014 Capital Works Budget, and a press release from the City of Montreal announcing the commitment to build the Cavendish Blvd. road extension project are available at www.CoteSaintLuc.org/CavendishExtension.

Scouts Canada is coming to Côte Saint-Luc

 

The City of Côte Saint-Luc is working to re-launch the Scouts this fall and is looking for Scout leaders and participants.

 

Scouts Canada is the country’s leading youth organization. For more than 100 years, it has brought a world of adventure, outdoor experience and friendship to 17 million Canadian youth. Scouts have a lot of fun discovering new things and experiences they wouldn’t have elsewhere. Along the way they develop into capable, confident and well-rounded individuals, better prepared for success in the world. Scouting offers a world where you can discover the best in yourself and the best in others.

 

Kids ages 5 to 10 and their parents can become involved in this century-old youth movement that provides opportunities to learn about nature, discover hidden talents and grow up in a leadership program that works towards developing all round participation in youth. It also provides opportunities for parents to spend time with their children learning and sharing together their experiences. All programs are open to boys and girls. Scouts Canada is providing support to train and assist new leaders in running programs for Beavers (ages 5 to 7) and Cubs (ages 8 to 10).

 

Meetings will be held every Monday from mid-October 2012 to the end of May 2013 from 6 pm to 7 pm for Beavers, and 7 pm to 8 pm for Cubs. There will also be weekend camps and outings. Adult volunteers are an essential part of Scouting so the city is looking for parents or older youth to help run the programs. If you can play a game, sing a song, teach a simple craft you can become a Beaver leader and spend quality time with your five to seven-year old. Cubs learn about the environment, community services, outdoor skills and how to

be part of a team in a non-competitive setting.

 

Even if you have no experience, Scouts Canada has simple training modules that can be done online and offers various training sessions throughout the year. Preset program outlines

are available as well as experienced Scouters who will assist meetings to get things rolling. The first 20 people who register will receive their uniform for free. The annual registration fee is $205. Camps and outings are extra. Fees can be deducted from income tax under the physical fitness tax credit.

 

If you are interested in the Scout program please contact 514-485-6806 or recreation@cotesaintluc.org.