ayout 1 - Westmount Independent

WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENTJune 6, 2007 Westmount-owned; Westmount-written.Vol. 1 No. 2InsideWestmount Page p. 9Real Estate Transfers p. 12Profile: Marie Khan p. 11The Westmounters by MarilynnVanderstaay p. 14Movie Review: Once p. 15What’s Cooking in Westmount?by Anthea Dawson p. 15Construction permits p. 8Trend Watch p. 15GOLDEN SQUARE MILEStunning! Unique! European sophistication!Townhouse, completely renovated. “State ofthe Art”, three bedrooms, two bathroomss,powder room, gym, parking. $2,695,000.Is Westmount sustainable?City embarks on comprehensive socialand environment development planBy Laureen SweeneyWhat kind of community do you want to live in tomorrow?This question is the first step in an ambitious city plan to identifythe social, environmental and economic needs of the futureand create an all-encompassing Strategy for Sustainable Development.The strategy would become a touchstone for decision makingin a rapidly changing world and a community of changing demographics.“We need a comprehensive plan if we are going to work intoa sustainable community where citizens can continue to enjoyquality of life,” says Councillor Tom Thompson, who chairs theWestmount Healthy City Project.An initial report from the first public focus group, April 13, isexpected later this month, he told the Westmount Independent.This brain-storming session involved 25 selected citizens representinga cross section of the community.“When looking at sustainable development,most people think of five to 10 years ahead,” continued on page 2Brickpoint will remain openby Stuart WoodsThe closure of Brickpoint Studios onVictoria Ave. was averted when a newowner stepped forward at the last minuteto take over the business, which has beena Westmount institution since the 1960s.The knitting and needlepoint suppliesstore was scheduled to close last weekendwhen longtime owner Penelope Papineauretired. On the second-to-last day of thebusiness’s closing sale, Papineau’s daughter,Belinda Fox, decided that she wouldn’tpreside over the closure.“It just wasn’t resting well with me,”said Fox, adding that she has workedclosely with her mother in recent years tomanage the store and that customers canexpect business as usual.Papineau bought the business in 1983after moving to Westmount from Ottawa,where she worked as an accountant for thefederal government.She says she will spend her retirementworking in the garden of her countryhome in North Hatley. She will continueto help out at the store on a part-timebasis.Summit Park unleashedDogs owners are letting their dogs run loose at Summit Park –and the park may be suffering. See story, p. 12.CATHYMOOREAffiliated Real Estate AgentLifelong Westmount ResidentBuying, Sellingor RentingPlease Call MeCATHYMOORE514969-5900Your Independent Choicein Wealth ManagementFor further information on ourfinancial services, visit our website

WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – June 6, 2007 – 3Introducing the Westmount Independent teamDavid Price, editor, grewup on Thornhill Ave. andChurch Hill in Westmount.He went to St. Andrew’s,Roslyn, SelwynHouse, Dawson and Mc-Gill. He has a BA fromMcGill, law and MBA degreesfrom the Universityof Toronto, and was awarded the CFA designation.He worked as an investment andmerchant banker for five years. In 2004,he joined the book publishing company(Price-Patterson) founded by his father,Michael Price. David continues to publishbooks through Price-Patterson, but foundedSherbrooke-Valois in 2006 to publishcalendars and newspapers. He launchedhis first newspaper, Vivva Montreal, in2006. He lives on Lansdowne Ave.Marilynn Vanderstaay hasbeen published in nationaland urban papers, but hercommitment to the communityhas led her to writemainly for local publicationsin both London, ONwhere she lived for 25years and Montreal sinceshe returned home ten years ago. Marilynngraduated from Westmount High inthe early 1970s. She has organized threereunions and was the first female memberof the Westmount High Old Boys’ Association.She is a current board member.Marilynn lives on St. Catherine St. acrossfrom Westmount High, which she says ispenance for having cut so many classes.Sandy Cobrin, advertising sales, has workedin Westmount for twelve years sellingads for two newspapers.Ted Sancton, owner of Studio Melrose, hasworked in prepress graphic production forover 35 years, 25 of those with The WestmountExaminer and Adcomp whenowned by the Sancton family.For chief reporter LaureenSweeney, covering Westmountcomes naturally. AMcGill graduate, Laureenwas raised in Westmount,has worked at The Gazetteand The Montreal Star andspent many years as chiefreporter and photographerfor The Westmount Examiner and WestmountExperience. An award-winning journalist,photographer and longtime volunteerin Westmount, she has served as GirlGuide leader and District Commissioner,and held various Scouting postions. She isalso the author of Polishing the Jewel: A Historyof the Renewal Project of WestmountPublic Library.Among career highlights are her nationalaward for investigative journalism, a numberof provincial awards and coverage ofthe visits here of Pope John Paul II and theQueen Mother. She continues as a freelancewriter and maintains her own communicationsbusiness.Annika Melanson grew up on LansdowneAve., attended St. Andrew’s, Roslyn, St.Léon, Villa Ste. Marcelline and Marianopolis.She then moved toToronto to become a flightattendant for Air Canada.Now most of her adventuresinvolve exploringMontreal with her fouryear-old daughter, Amel.She launched her firstbook, The Montreal PocketParent: A Directory for Pregnant Women,Parents, Babies and Children in 2005. Sheis also the author of the French version, Lebottin des bambins, and co-author ofYummy in my Tummy.Annika writes the parenting column,“Maternally Yours”, for Vivva Montreal,covering fun things to do with childrenand for young families in Montreal.Carola Price is DavidPrice’s third cousin and anaccomplished food andwine expert. She and herbrother Phil Price shared achildhood full of adventureand culinary delights whiletraveling the globe enfamille. Finding their wayback to Montreal (including some time onHallowell), she studied Hospitality Managementat Concordia University andLeisure Studies at University of Ottawa.She moved up in the kitchens of severalestablishments only to decide that NovaScotia was a great place to begin a new adventure.Carola owned a bistro and managedthe posh Upper Deck Restaurant, allthe while becoming a sommelier, whichbrought about a definite longing for thefood and wine culture of home. Now settledin NDG, Carola operates a cateringand sommelier consulting service, In VinoVeritas Montreal, writes the wine columnsfor Vivva Montreal and the Westmount Independent,and can be heard regularly gabbingabout wine on 940 Montreal’s TableTalk with Orla Johannes.Phil Price is a filmmakerand owner of Philms Pictures.His next featurefilm, Prom Wars, is about awar started by the girls ofACS, who force two boys’schools, Selby and Lancaster,into battle, the winnerof which gets exclusiverights to the girls as prom dates. This privateschool-inspired film is Phil’s principalWestmount pedigree, although he didspend some of his time growing up onHallowell. When not writing and directingTV and film, he and his sister, Carola,write about all things food for third cousinand editor-in-chief David Price – for verylittle money or positive reinforcement,simply because he is prone to the trappingsof familial guilt.Aurélien Guillory is fromLouisiana and opened AtelierAurélien in Montrealover 25 years ago, aftercompleting his universitystudies in fine arts andclinical psychology. Hisspecialty is colour compositionand the custom designof residential spaces, boutiques,restaurants and executive suites, many ofwhich have won international awards. Hisdesigns in lighting and décor have beenadmired at charity gala balls such asChâteau Ramezay’s centennial, for whichhe served as the consultant during the museum’srenovation in 18th century colours.Anthea Dawson, grew upin Westmount on KitchenerAve. She started atWestmount Pre-School,then The Priory, ECS,Dawson College, and finallythe University ofToronto to study film andhistory. She moved toBoston in 2002 to study food at the CambridgeSchool of Culinary Arts, and wenton to work at a popular high-end Bostonrestaurant, Sel de la Terre. Since 2005, shehas been executive chef at Simply Wonderful,Westmount’s local catering establishmenton Abbott St.Heather Black is a communicationsdesigner wholives and works in Westmount.A member of theJunior League since 1989,she has initiated projectsin the area, most recently acareer mentoring programfor girls at WestmountHigh School. She has a BA and a BEdfrom of Dalhousie University and a BDesignfrom the Nova Scotia Scotia Collegeof Art and Design.Our focus is to manageyour wealth effectively.John H. BridgmanDirector & Portfolio ManagerRobert A. McKenzie, C.A., CFADirector & Portfolio Manager514-394-3000

4 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – June 6, 2007At Second GlanceWestmount’s democratic deficitHeather BlackRecently, Justin Trudeau became theLiberal candidate for Papineau. And, bybeing nominated and elected by partymembers, he won his candidacy fair andsquare. So why are the citizens of Westmount-VilleMarie denied this grass-rootsprocess? Are our votes being taken forgranted?Reserved ridingsAlthough reserving ridings for “starcandidates” are counter to democraticideals, they are not new. In 1994, followingthe PQ win, MP David Berger wasasked – in the name of Canadian unity –to resign in favour of parachute candidateLucienne Robillard.However this practice – once the exception– appears to be increasing. Theneighbouring ridings of LaSalle-Émardand Outremount are also reserved.That means that 225,000 prospectivevoters in centre-west Montreal will nothave the opportunity to choose their ownLiberal candidate, at a time when localparty membership is below the two percent average. But just how “Liberal-safe”is Westmount-Ville Marie?Liberalism or the LiberalsAlthough the Liberal record of onlyone loss since 1940 is impressive, it deservesa second glance. In the 1988 freetrade election, the Conservative candidateWESTMOUNTINDEPENDENTWe are Westmount.Twice monthly(1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month),next issue: June 20Westmount (H3Y and H3Z):10,000 copies by Canada Post200 copies distributed to over30 waiting-room dropsMonthly (last Wednesday of the month), next issue: June 27Westmount & eastern NDG(H3Y, H3Z & H4A): 22,000 copiesby Canada Post600 copies distributed to over50 waiting-room dropsVivva Montreal is a provisionalaffiliate member of theQuebec CommunityNewspapers Association.IF YOU DON’T WANT TO GET OUR PUBLICATIONS, Canada Post advises that you place a sticker on your mailbox thatsays, ‘No ad mail.’ SI VOUS NE VOULEZ PAS REÇEVOIR NOS PUBLICATIONS: Malheureusement, nous ne sommespas capable de bloquer une adresse individuelle. Il faut mettre une étiquette près de votre fente à lettres qui lit «Pas demédia-poste». IF YOU DO WANT TO RECEIVE OUR PUBLICATIONS AND YOU HAVE A STICKER ON YOURMAILBOX (or are outside our distribution area), please send a cheque for $1.50 x the number of issues left in the year. Wewill mail them to you for the rest of the current calendar year.Editor: David Price 514.935.4537Assistant editor: Stuart Woods 514.223.3578Chief reporter, Westmount Independent:Laureen SweeneyColumnist: Marilynn VanderstaayLayout: Studio Melrose/Ted Sanctonlost by only 900 votes.So would constituents who care aboutliberalism make community consent anelection issue? And would members ofthe community with liberal inclinationsextend candidate choice by running as independentliberals?Increasing influenceAlthough sitting as an independent isnot prevalent in this country, on May 19,2005, Canadians saw the effect of threeindependents – Chuck Cadman, CarolynParrish and David Kilgour – on thebudget vote and the future of Paul Martin’sLiberal government. But in somecountries, sitting as an independent is becominga new norm.In the Republic of Ireland’s Dàil, thereare fifteen independent members, or 9percent of all seats. At Westminster, runningas an independent is a long-standingtradition and has been practised bypoliticians of all stripes including therevered Winston Churchill (IndependentAnti-Socialist), David Lloyd George (IndependentLiberal) and Keir Hardie (IndependentLabour).Would this be an option for Westmountresidents? Would you vote for anindependent candidate?Heather Black is a Westmountcommunications designer. If you have newtopics for this column, please contact herat: atcitizen@gmail.Advertising sales:Sandy Cobrin 514.670.0432Annika Melanson 514.223.3567Published by Sherbrooke-Valois Inc.310 Victoria Ave., Suite 105Westmount, QC H3Z 2M9Fax: (514) 935-9241The ContrarianRecycling ReduxI was going to complain about something completely different this issue, but I recentlyleft my house at 8 am to put out my recycling – and the collectors had alreadycome and gone! My neighbour’s empty bins provided silent but decisive testimony totheir early arrival.I don’t care when they come, but it would be so much better if they came at the sametime of day for each side of a street. On the morning in question, I was beaten to thepunch by the collectors (a little less work for them to do?), but sometimes the oppositehappens. I arrive home late in the day and the recycling has been out all day: beingsnowed on, rained on and subject to the harsh winds of Westmount. It would have beenbetter for everyone if I had brought it out at the end of the day. Blowing garbage mayonly disturb residents, but it is in the interest of the City’s contractor to have dry recyclables.They are lighter and easier to sort.Dream the dreamImagine for a moment a city where everyone knew when the collectors came. Somepeople are home during the day or get back in time for a late pick-up. They could putout their recycling at the best time, thereby minimizing precipitation on the recyclablesand the amount of time that they have to blow around. Early birds would know theyhave to be on their toes to avoid double loads the next week.In my particular case, the collectors added injury to their randomness by pulling oneof their other tricks: throwing the emptied recycling bins into the driveway. They lovedoing this. Is it a game? Or a hidden message? Or another instance of randomness:sometimes they do it; sometimes they don’t?They didn’t get one over on me totally, though. A pleasant across-the-street neighbourallowed me to place my bin on his lawn. They still had to haul that recycling!FOLLOW-UP: On the subject of last issue’s column (blowing garbage and recyclables),kudos to the Ville Marie borough. It has instituted fines for dirty yards and sidewalks,and increased surveillance.Bike patrols to providemore break-in protectionTwo police bicycle patrollers are takingto the streets in Westmount along with officerswalking the beat in commercialareas.The greater police presence should helpenforce bicycle regulations as well as serveas a crime deterrent, said Cst. CarolineGauthier, community relation officer atlocal Station 12 on Stanton Street.Three commercial establishments werereported broken into two weeks ago at4421, 4435 and 4441 St. Catherine Street.Police said entry was gained in all casesby prying locks off doors. The three are believedrelated.As well, an office in the building at 310Victoria was broken into at night May 19.Computer equipment was reported stolen.The building was entered by breaking awindow in the back door. The same placehas been hit before on recent occasions.Smoking causessmall balcony fireA small fire at 19 Stayner Street causedonly minor damage May 11, fire officialssaid, but aroused the neighbourhood at3:15 am.The fire broke out in a flower pot on aLetters to the EditorI was very pleased to see the first issueof the Westmount Independent. Congratulationsto all involved on a great effort toprovide another voice for what will alwaysbe a vibrant and active community withlots of news and activities to share. If youkeep up the standards of the inauguralissue I’m sure the new paper will be wellreceived and a great success. Best of luck.Don Sancton,Beaconsfield, Quebecbalcony caused by smoker’s material. Itwas quickly doused by firefighters using aportable extinguisher. Damage was reportedat $200.Proofing ContestProofing winner Sheila Usher was toomodest to be photographed with hercheque, but she is our first winner. Wehereby offer a prize of $25 to the readerwho finds the most typos in this issue byJune 13. A typo is an obvious error or misspellingrather than a deviation in usage.To collect the prize, the winner must bephotographed for the next issue. In theevent of a tie, all winners will be credited,but only one prize will be awarded (by cointoss). Please send your entry as to stuart.woods@pricepatterson.com.

WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – June 6, 2007 – 5Beneath the turfInterview with Westmount Director General Bruce St. LouisAt the Westmount Independent, we feelthat a lot of specific questions were notasked or answered at the May 16 publicmeeting, so we spoke with the city’s directorgeneral, Bruce St. Louis, and tried toask precise questions about the artificialturf issue.PreliminariesWI: In the event that artificial turf is installed,has a supplier been chosen? If so,who? What would the proposed artificial turfbe made from? Does the city’s targeted supplier(or any potential supplier) have a turfproduct made entirely out of virgin fibre?BSL: Not only has a supplier not beenchosen, but we do not yet have a projectwith specifications (such as virgin fibre ornot) that a supplier could bid on. For aproject of this size, we would decide onspecifications and then put the project outto tender.What is on the table at the moment arethree proposals (new natural turf, artificialturf and a combination of the two) for theWestmount Park fields south of the bikepath. Nothing has been decided yet onwhich, if any, will proceed. Nor are any ofthe proposals provided for in the existingbudget, so a new loan funding resolutionwould also be needed before proceeding.WI: What is the target length of playingfield grass? Is it being overcut? Has the Citylooked at letting it grow longer?BSL: The target length would be about3 inches, but at their current state of repair,the grass is so abused that it barely growsat all.HealthWI: Inevitably, intrudants (e.g. animalfeces, human blood) find their way onto fieldsurfaces. What is the City’s current process forremoving them and how would it differ for artificialturf? Are any cleansers used? Wouldthey be used on artificial turf?BSL: Coaches and city personnel checkfields before use. If a problem is found, itis removed. No cleansers are currentlyused.For artificial turf, the same processwould be used. We do not anticipate usingcleansers on artificial turf. Many communitiesdon’t. If we did, however, we wouldnot use any product that leaves a residue,or would be harmful to human or animalhealth.WI: It seems likely that artificial turfwould sometimes become hot and unsafe.Would the City cancel games at these times?How often would the field be tested for temperature?BSL: The two municipalities that wereconsulted in the Golder report (Kirklandand Dollard) have not cancelled games becauseof the heat. There are a number ofways to ensure that future Westmountfields would also be useable in hotweather. Firstly, fields can be equippedwith sensors so that they are monitoredcontinuously. At a given heat threshold,sprinklers go on automatically. Also, notall fields have tire crumbs as the infill.Some have lighter colour substances orsand. These absorb less heat.WI: Is the air next to recycled rubber tiresdangerous to breathe?BSL: We don’t have an official answer,but the Golder toxicologist has verballytold us ‘no.’ On the broader issue of environmentalsafety, an extract from theGolder report’s conclusion reads as follows:“… the information currently availableindicates that the risks for the humanhealth and the environment are negligibleassociated with the planned installation ofan artificial outdoor soccer surface inWestmount.”WI: What is the story on physical injuries?Some people seem to say that artificial turf issafer than natural turf. Others say the reverse.What is the City’s view? On what basis wasthis view formed?BSL: As you say, it depends on whomyou talk to. What is needed is a peer reviewedstudy comparing new natural tonew artificial turf, which we have notfound. What is clear is that either a newnatural turf field or an artificial turf fieldwould be safer than what is there now.Urban planningWI: Residents are worried about futurecouncils adding lighting or further fencing offthe artificial fields. A current city council cannotbind future councils with a resolution, butcan the City grant a legally binding right of“non lighting” to residents of Melville Ave.and Academy Rd.? Can the City grant alegally binding right of “non fencing”? Wouldthe City do so?BSL: Councils work in four-year mandates.From a legal point of view, what youpropose is possible, but this could becomea very involved, complicated and expensivelegal process.WI: What does the City foresee regardingtraffic patterns around the artificial fields?Has a study been done?BSL: Under all three proposals, there isno plan for any increase in the volume ofWestmount’s sports programming, sothere is no foreseen change in the area’straffic patterns.PracticalitiesWI: If an artificial field were being disposedof today, is there a site that would acceptit?BSL: Given that we haven’t set a field’sspecifications, I don’t know, but there arelandfills in Quebec that accept residue thatnormal landfills can’t, so I think any syntheticfield would most probably be disposable,but hopefully it could be recycledin some fashion.WI: There are many artificial turf fields inMontreal right now that have been subject tothe same weather that Westmount fieldsWestmount Park kidswould be. Has the city or its agents inspectedactual fields to see how much wear they haveexperienced? If so, is a 20-year lifespan realisticin light of these inspections?BSL: None of the existing Montrealfields are older than four to five years. Thewarranties currently offered by manufacturersrange from eight to ten years, withsome looking to increase this to fifteenyears. In the United States, some fields arestill in use after ten to fifteen years – andthat is under harsher conditions, becauseour fields would be protected from the sunby snow for several months of the year.Everyone’s got an opinion on turf these days. Clockwise from top left: Bronwyn Farkas, Tessa Kemerer,Paul Setrakian, Marguerite Setrakian, Ella Csürös and Katalina Toth.If you don’t like what we’re doing, please tell us –and we’ll try to fix it.David Price, Editor514.935.4537 davidprice@pricepatterson.comIf you do like what we’re doing,please tell Westmount’s major advertisers:• The City of Westmount• Real estate agents• Local shops & businessesWESTMOUNTINDEPENDENTWe are Westmount.

6 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – June 6, 2007Beautify lanes and pull ragweedfor Communities in BloomCouncillors Cynthia Lulham and George Bowser launch Communities in Bloom by displaying a bagpromoting the competition.By Laureen SweeneyWestmount residents and merchantsare urged to beautify their properties andback lanes, and pull out ragweed to helpthe city achieve its goals for this year’sCommunities in Bloom competition.The challenge was launched at the May28 city council meeting by CouncillorsGeorge Bowser and Cynthia Lulham.This is the first year since demergerthat Westmount has entered the nationalQUALITY OFFICEFURNITURESAMPLE SALETO70UP% SAVINGS!The finest executive officefurniture, leather chairsand conference tablesMontreal’s LargestShowroom!www.kainsofficefurniture.com3155 Deville514 725-5295event, in which the city previously reachedthe highest level of recognition.The city last participated in 2003, havingadvanced into the international sectionof the competition.A number of residents whose homesback onto lanes have already beautifiedthem, explains city horticulturist ClaudetteSavaria.She singles out the lane by Barat Roadand Holton as an example as well as onenear Centre Greene where a rock gardenwas created.“We’re trying to raise awareness in thecommunity that our lanes need attention,”she says. “Planting is one way to stop thegrowth of ragweed, which thrives in poorsoil and can’t compete with other plants.”The city is specially targeting ragweedthis year, and is putting out a pamphletavailable at city hall.Westmount’s business sector is alsobeing encouraged to join the beautificationbandwagon by planting flowers andkeeping their front and back propertiesclean and tidy.This year, judges will visit WestmountAugust 13.Council deals quicklywith turf issueBy Laureen SweeneyA wide range of business characterizedthe May 28 meeting of Westmount Citycouncil from a parks curfew to traffic restrictions.But the feistiest issue in some time, thecontroversial resurfacing of playing fieldsin Westmount Park, consumed a shorterthan usual share of attention.Among other items raised by citizensduring the two question periods were thelength of time taken to make public theminutes of committee meetings, dog excrementin parks, the absence of the cannonfrom Westmount Park, loose soccergoal posts, and the lack of bus service atcertain times.Back to turfA report opposing the use of artificialturf was presented to the council by GillianO’Driscoll, a parent from the CPE Narnia,on behalf of the daycare, Westmount ParkSchool Council and Save Westmount Park!Patrick Barnard, president of the latterorganization, also submitted a separate petitionof 1,050 names rejecting “any proposalswhich will damage the naturalgreenspace within the present area” andrejecting the installation of artificial turf.Councillor Cynthia Lulham, who chairedthe session as pro-mayor, told those assembledthat the council would not bemaking a decision until later in June.Melville resident Mavis Young askedthat “in the interests of transparency” anyvote concerning artificial turf be taken inpublic.Who was, and will be, whereMayor Karin Marks was absent fromthe chair prior to leaving for the annualconference of the Federation of CanadianMunicipalities (FCM) in Calgary.Councillors Guy Charette and John deCastell also missed the meeting, thoughCouncillor de Castell had returned to thetable for a special council session May 8following a lengthy illness.No member of council would representMayor Marks at the May 31 meeting of theisland-wide Agglomeration Council,Councillor Lulham said in answer to aquestion by Henry Olders, president of theWestmount Municipal Association.Instead, the council would submit a reportopposing a number of items on theagenda.None of the other 14 demerged citieswould be represented either because of theFCM meeting, she said.Westmount’s participation in this year’snational Communities in Bloom competitionwas officially launched (see separatestory).Reports of key items adopted by councilare contained in separate stories in thisedition of the Westmount Independent.Katalina Toth, left, and Ella Csürös present Councillor Cynthia Lulhamwith a painting of how they see life in a park.

WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – June 6, 2007 – 7Parks curfew comingagain – 20 years laterKeeping the cannonout of the line of fireBy Laureen SweeneyEscalating problems in local parks arecausing Westmount city council to imposea midnight curfew. The council, at itsmeeting May 28, served notice of its intentionto modify the parks bylaw at a subsequentsession to close all parks betweenmidnight and 5 am.“We are experiencing unprecedentedlevels of vandalism, graffiti, substanceabuse, and unruly behaviour especially inour larger parks,” Councillor GeorgeBowser explained.The idea of enshrining a curfew in thebylaw comes two decades after a similarcurfew regulation in parks was adopted bycouncil in general committee to muchpublic opposition.It would also clarify a sometimes confusingsituation stemming from the curfewregulation announced at the councilmeeting May 5, 1986.Initially enacted on a one-year trialbasis, the curfew has remained in force inSummit Park. Over the years, however, ithas been interpreted in different ways.Interestingly in 1986, as now, the curfewwas explained as a tool requested bypolice for clearing parks of noisy or unrulygroups of youths. It could be applied at thediscretion of enforcement officers.Curfew opposedThe original regulation was, however,strongly opposed by the Westmount MunicipalAssociation and editorialists on13 fined for drinkingOver the Victoria Day weekend, 13 personswere fined for drinking in Westmountparks, public safety official report.Four were adults. In the seven separate incidents,three took place in WestmountPark, another three in King George Parkand one in Summit Park. Four extra patrolcars were added for the May 24 holiday.With the start of the summer, eightpublic safety cadets will patrol the parks –four during the day and four in theevening, explains Public Security DirectorRichard Blondin.As well, two auxiliary officers will be assignedto parks patrol, “so we’ll have theparks covered seven days a week.”Westmount is experiencing a rash ofunruly behaviour in the parks this year,leading Dir. Blondin, in conjunction withpolice, to request a parks curfew.grounds it deprived all citizens of the rightto walk through the park on a summernight.At the time, then Councillor Joan Rothmanstated she had voted against the curfew.She was against “passing a regulationthat is very difficult to enforce.”The mayor, Brian Gallery, and the parkscommissioner, Councillor John Shingler,expressed their distaste for a curfew and reiteratedcomments by police that commonsense would be used in applying it.Back to the presentFast forward 21 years, and this is thesame rationale expressed by CouncillorBowser in his statement as follows:“Our current legislation requires thatan individual must be ‘caught in the act’before action can be taken… .“Council is being asked by our law enforcementpersonnel, both police and PublicSecurity, to give them the tools to helpdo a better job in keeping our parks safe.”He stated that council felt very few citizenswould use the parks during the proposedhours of curfew; and that, “in the interestsof safety, felt committed toadopting a curfew regulation.”One-hour parking adopted for streetsnear new Marianopolis siteThe absence of the two bronze cannonfrom Westmount Park raised a question atthe May 28 council meeting.When the 1811 cannon are removed forwinter hibernation and repair, they arenormally returned by this time.“Where are the cannon?”local resident Gerald Glassasked, noting that the guncarriages remained in place.Councillor George Bowser,the parks commissioner,confirmed that thecannon had indeed been removedfor repair.Empty carriagesHe suggested, however,that “they could be a target”while the park is experiencingso much graffiti andvandalism, and suggested itmight be better to leave thecarriages empty.Crafted in England, thecannon have delighted childrensince being placed inWestmount Park in 1897.Weighing two tons each,Councillor Tom ThompsonA one-hour parking limit has beenplaced on eight streets near the site towhich Marianopolis College has relocatedon Westmount Avenue near Victoria.The weekday parking restrictions, from8 am to 6 pm, form part of a series of trafficchanges being put in place before thestart of the fall school season.They will not apply to Westmount residentswith parking stickers.“We’re making these adjustments todiscourage parking in the area by studentsand staff,” said Councillor Tom Thompsonin moving the adoption of the changes.The aim is to encourage the 1,900 student/staffpopulation to use public transportation,he explained.The council also agreed to make an officialrequest to the Montreal transit commissionto double the number of buses onthe 124 and 138 lines between 7:30 am and9 am.As well, 30-km/h speed limits were establishedon Claremont north of Sherbrooke,on Westmount Avenue (Claremontto Victoria) and Victoria (Westmountto Côte St. Antoine).These and other traffic calming measuresregarding access to and from the sitewere outlined to residents in a comprehensivebooklet dated May 18.one can scarcely imagine how studentsmanaged to remove one from the park toa Université de Montréal building oneevening in 1989 as a carnival prank.The cannon was safely brought back bythe city soon after.The cannon in Westmount Park, 1967Among them are the reconfiguration ofthe entry to the college, the installation oftraffic lights, and parental drop-off andpick-up points.A permanent joint Marianopolis/VillaMaria/City safety committee will also beestablished to study and implement othermeasures.Streets affected by the one-hour parkingare:Westmount Avenue north side to thechute;Victoria, west side from The Boulevard toCôte St. Antoine;Claremont, east and west north of Chesterfield;Chesterfield, north side throughout;Windsor, north side, Victoria to PrinceAlbert, and south side from Prince Albertto city limits;Parkman Place, north side;Willow, both sides throughout; andCôte St. Antoine, north side, Victoria towest city limits.

8 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – June 6, 2007Kensington Ave. impassableKensington Ave. between Sherbrookeand St. Catherine will remain closed tothrough traffic until the end of June asroadwork on the street continues.Crews are planning to excavate thestreet below de Maisonneuve this weekand to begin reconstructing the road’sstone and reinforced concrete base. Theyare on schedule to lay down a new asphaltsurface by June 23.The City has issued parking passes toresidents denied access to their driveways.Road reconstruction scheduled thissummer and fall includes work on AberdeenAve. (north of The Boulevard),Chesterfield Ave., Carleton Ave., OlivierAve. (between de Maisonneuve and Sherbrooke)and Belvedere Pl.The following work permits for new construction,alterations and plumbing wereapproved by Westmount city council atits last meeting May 28.632 Clarke: to create two new openingsat the attic level at the front and side andadd new dormers on the back;52 St. Sulpice: alterations to building includingrestoration of original windowopenings and modification of some; replacementof some windows; to reconfiguresunroom;478 Grosvenor: to build a deck and erecta fence in rear yard;655 Roslyn: landscaping in the rear yardincluding a ground level patio, newWhat’s Going On?planting areas and a new fence;12 Rosemount: landscaping in front andside yards including a new planting area,sidewalk and fence;671 Roslyn: to replace windows;1 Grenville: to replace solarium windows;638 Victoria: to replace front door;4 Parkman Place: to replace some windowsand doors;586 Lansdowne: to rebuild front balcony,and replace garage and basements doors;35 Côte St. Antoine: to replace some windows;584 Lansdowne: to build new deck inback yard.Make Your Move to Westmount’s FinestMeet fire inspectors Philippe Therrien and Jean-François Fontainewho may be calling at your door this summer.Summer fire inspectionsbring new buzzChristopher GardinerAffiliated Real Estate Agent514.704.1270chris@chrisgardiner.caSOLD457 Elm: Luxury, style, and proximity to all!5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms NY townhouse inmove-in condition. Asking $1,095,000668 Belmont: It is all here – 5 bedrooms,4 bathrooms, space, light-filled, lovely detail,location, new kitchen, 2 car garage.Asking $1,298,000. mls 1296229667 Belmont: Just listed! Bright, spacegalore and grandeur – this 3 storey, 6 bedroomsis a Westmount classic in bestlocation. Asking $1,399,000. mls 1328195Call for an Appointment or for a Consultation On Your HomeGroupe-Sutton-centre-ouestWestmount’s summer blitz of homefire inspections began in earnest twoweeks ago with a number of changesaimed at raising safety levels.This year, the two fire prevention studentshired by the city for the task willwork from 1 to 9 pm in the hopes of findingmore residents at home than the earlierperiod of 9 am to 5 pm.At those homes where there is still noanswer, they will leave a check list for residentsto conduct their own inspection.As well, says Fire Prevention ChiefDaniel de Vries, inspectors will replace thebatteries in smoke detectors whereneeded.This is the first time they are “armed”with batteries.“Our aim is to make more homes conformto the bylaw,” Chief de Vries explained.This year, the inspectors will be callingon homes in the sector north of SherbrookeStreet that has not yet been coveredin the two-year inspection cycle.Some homes in the western pocket betweenGrosvenor and Claremont south ofCôte St. Antoine have already been visitedby firefighters between calls.Student inspectors have been hired bythe city since the municipal demerger tosupplement the in-service inspections byMontreal firefighters.Last year, 1,800 doors were knocked onin the south sector between 9 am and 5pm when, typically, entry was gained toonly 40 percent of addresses.At those 646 homes, 169 were foundto have missing smoke detector batteries,which rendered the warning devices nonfunctional,Chief de Vries said.The inspectors will also check the electricalpanel, ensure that chimneys havebeen inspected and look for the presenceof combustibles close to ignition sources.They will also be checking constructionpermits if renovations are under way aswell as dog licences.

WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – June 6, 2007 – 9

10 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – June 6, 2007Well-known officer retires,asks citizens to showcompassion and respectBy Laureen SweeneyFew people, perhaps, have been in sucha pivotal position as retiring Public SafetyOfficer James Novak to observe the demographicand social changes that have takenplace in Westmount.As Community Relations Officer forthe past 10 years of his 26-year careerhere, he has experienced firsthand theaging of the community, a change of attitudesand the evolution of a more transientpopulation.He attributes the stress under which somany now live and work, and the generallack of respect for people and property to areflection of society in general.“I think it’s very important that citizensat large try to be more sensitive to theirneighbours,” he said in a parting interview.“Be a little more compassionate. Putyourself in the position of your neighbour.”Best place to live in CanadaNevertheless, he adds, “There’s nodoubt, Westmount is probably still the bestplace to live in Canada. People are verynice here, which has made it easier to stayso long.”Summit chimney fireraises inspection alertA chimney fire at 46 Summit Circle isa reminder to all Westmount residents ofthe need to have chimneys inspected atleast once a year, fire officials said recently.The fire was caused by a build up ofcreosote in the chimney that almost completelyblocked the flue, causing oil toleak on the furnace room floor and sootto back up in the home.Damage was estimated at some$15,000.Firefighters found black smoke billowingfrom the chimney when respondingto the call May 5 shortly after 7:15 pm,said Fire Prevention Chief Daniel deVries. They were able to unblock thechimney from the roof using a ball andchain.Councillor Tom Thompson thankedPSO Novak during the May 28 councilmeeting for his contribution to the community.“We’re very appreciative of his efforts.”Among the many highlights of PSONovak’s work have been addressing neighbourhoodgroups on safety and visitingschools.He also coordinated and planned suchprograms as the Halloween decoratingcompetition, the holiday food collection,and the Junior PSO program (cancelledthis year).It was probably fitting that his last dayon the job happened to be May 26, FamilyDay in Westmount Park.It has been part of PSO Novak’s workto deal on the front line with people upsetover receiving statements of office for violatingmunicipal by-laws, for helping themwith a variety of needs and for trying to initiatemore community programs withfewer and fewer resources at his disposal.Life since the mergerSince the merger with Montreal fiveyears ago, and the subsequent demerger,Westmount has been run more like a business,he says. Out of necessity, “there’sbeen a tremendous change since 2002Under the National Fire Code ofCanada adopted by Westmount as its partof its fire prevention bylaw, chimneysmust be cleaned when needed but inspectedat least every 12 months, he said.This applies to all furnaces, wood, oil orgas.Now is a good time to check the chimneybefore the start of the heating seasonin the fall, he said.“Even if the chimney is clean, it couldbe blocked by a bird or squirrel nest thatcould cause carbon monoxide to back upinto the home.”Names of certified chimney cleanersand inspectors may be obtained from theAssociation des professionnels dechauffage à combustible solide at514.270.4944.James Novak at Family Day, 2007, his last day on the job.when so much now has to be dictated bythe bottom line.”His role has evolved from the originaljob description of promoting communitysafety to a more administrative one and “abit of an ombudsman.”Latterly, since Westmount lost its ownmunicipal court in the island-wide merger,PSO Novak has acted in a liaison role betweenthe city and municipal court inMontreal.He has also assumed responsibility formaintaining the Public Security Unit’s statisticsand managing the city’s lost andfound department, formerly handled bypolice.PSO Novak, a longtime Montreal Westresident, spent 10 years in the hotel businessbefore joining the PSU in 1981.Fashion for fundsHe spent 15 years on patrol in Westmountand has always enjoyed being “outon the street” with citizens. He welcomedthe opportunity to become CommunityRelations Officer, able to do more PR anddeal more directly with people than workingthe various shifts.His wife, Annette, is coordinator in oncologyat the Jewish General Hospital.Their son, Jason, a law student, is currentlyworking at Victoria Hall for thesummer. Cory attended Dawson College.“I’ve enjoyed my years tremendously,”he says. “It’s been particularly interestingand challenging given the changes in demographicsand focus of the city.”Now, he’s refocusing his own life. Andwhile retired, he doesn’t plan to stop workingat age 53, he says.Models from the Sisterhood Shaar Hashomayim and guests have a good time at the 2nd annualPirouette fashion show that raised funds for youth and education programs on May 29.

WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – June 6, 2007 – 11Westmount Profile: Marie Aminata KhanFurthering global biodiversityBy Laureen SweeneyWhen a broken water main onGrosvenor left Marie AminataKhan without water service onewinter day this year, she was completelyunfazed.“My neighbours were so amazed that Iwas going outside to collect snow and boilingit to wash in,” she recalls with a smile.“But this is reality in Africa, where youtry to keep a couple of buckets of water inreserve.”And for this resourceful mother of two,who has lived and worked in many lands,it was Marie’s turn to be surprised whenWestmount began distributing bottleddrinking water to the anxious residents.After 15 years in various UN positions,Marie is now settling into life in Westmountand her newest posting with theUnited Nations as Information Officer forthe Secretariat of the Convention on BiologicalDiversity, located in Montreal.“For me, Montreal is just an idealchoice,” she says. “Its lifestyle is midwaybetween European and North American.“I love my home here and feel very safe.The people are extremely nice and myfamily is adapting well.”Citizen of the worldAnd Marie can truly be called a citizenof world – a lifestyle she has inherited.As the daughter of parents working forthe UN, she spent her first 20 years travellingbetween New York and England,Sierra Leone, Cameroon and Niger.So where does she call home?“That’s a problem,” she says. “Buteverywhere I go, I make it home because Ihave no clue where I’m going next orwhere I will end up.”Marie is proud of her second nameAminata. “It comes from the name of Mohammed’smother, which is Amna,” sheexplains. “Aminata is also my grandmother’sname.”Born in Manchester, England, Marielived there for seven months until shemoved to Sierra Leone, where she wasraised by her grandparents until age 7when her parents settled in New York City.Her father was working with the UN.Her mother was then an information officerwith the African Union.Marie attended boarding school on theIsle of Wight in England.“It taught me responsibility and independence,”she recalls. “I learned to counton me, myself and I. When I reached university,I was well able to handle my ownfinances.“In my turn, I’m trying to instill thispart of my growing up in my own sons.”They are Frederick and Charles, both attendingSt. George’s School.Marie also swam and played on schoolfield hockey and netball teams, “alwaysjust for fun.” She also excelled at tennis,which she still plays. “Nowadays,” shemuses, “the fun seems to have gone out ofcompetitive sport.”After age 12, Marie spent a year inschool in Sierra Leone, before completinghigh school at the International School inNew York City.A people person and humanitarian,Marie always wanted to be a doctor. “Butthat changed when I got to university,” shesays.And a year at Plattsburgh Universityturned out to be a cultural shock. “For thefirst time, I was coming out a multi-culturalenvironment into a totally Americanone.”So, when Marie’s father was transferredto Cameroon, she accompanied him,studying linguistics, and obtaining a BAin translation in 1985.Immediately after, she went to Senegalto do her masters studies in English literatureat the University of Dakar. “The studentstrikes were so disruptive that I returnedto New York.”The Nouvelle Frontière and the UNThere, she began working for a Frenchcharter tour organization called NouvelleFrontière.Interestingly, it was thatexperience as a tour guidethat led her to apply at theUN in 1989.“I had always said Iwouldn’t join the UN becausemy father was there,”she says. “So I appliedusing a different familyname. Actually, it was veryfunny. The recruiter – whohappened to know mymother from the African Union before shejoined the UN – recognized the resemblance.”(Marie’s mother joined the UN to workas a civilian peacekeeper in Somalia. In themidst of the 1990s conflict, she was the directorof one of the zones under fire.)Marie was subsequently hired at the“I love my homehere and feel verysafe. The peopleare extremely niceand my family isadapting well.”UN where she guided hundreds of peoplethrough the headquarters.She resigned in 1994 when her husband,also with the UN, was transferred toNiger in the Development Program.For the next three years, she freelancedfor Etruscan, a Canadian mining company,doing translation and data entry, andlater worked as a librarian for the AmericanSchool of Niamey, capital of Niger.Back to the UNReturning to NYC in 1997, Marie rejoinedthe UN, “starting again at the bottom!”This time she worked in the Water Divisionof the Sustainable Energy & EnvironmentalDivision, progressing throughseveral positions to becomethe program assistant tocountries in development.Increasingly, Marie becameinvolved in differentareas of the program’swork, latterly as KnowledgeFacilitator for KnowledgeManagement & InformationOutreach for the SmallGrants Program of theGlobal Environment Facility.She arrived in Canada last October onher current posting, moving to Westmountat the suggestion of a relocationconsultant.“For me, the most important thing wasfinding schools for the boys within walkingdistance – and, living close to publictransit.”Marie Aminata Khan at homeMarie lives the role she works. Car-free,she enjoys being close to the YMCA whereshe swims and jazz dances.Also, she adds, she’s not far from NewYork where she visits her brother, a personalfitness trainer to VIPs, and to Washington,where her sister works with USgovernment’s Millennium Program.Work and homeMarie tries not to bring work homefrom office, she says.Among her responsibilities as InformationOfficer are preparing press releasesas well as statements for theagency’s Executive Secretary.Recently, she has been involved in theUN’s International Day for Biological Diversity,May 22, celebrated in Montreal atthe Botanical Garden.While members of her team participatedlocally, Marie was at UN headquartersin New York for the occasion.“Now, with all the scientific studies,”she says, “the evidence is that the changesin climate are affecting life on Earth –tough on plants and humans.”And for Marie, her work is perhaps a reflectionof her own upbringing that includedan instinctive desire to care for theworld environment and biodiversity.“I think if you just live in one society,you tend to take things for granted,” shesays.“But when you see firsthand the conditionsmany people live in, you have tothank God every day and say, ‘I really don’thave anything to complain about’.”

12 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – June 6, 2007Summit Park birds threatened by dogsBy Robert J. GalbraithCertain species of ground-dwellingbirds are being seen less frequently gracingthe forest floors of Summit Park, accordingto local bird watchers and biologists.Some people are pointing a finger atunconcerned dogowners who continueto break municipallaw by lettingtheir dogs offthe leash at the 57-acre park duringthe migration period.According toWestmount law,dogs are to beleashed at all timesfrom April 15 toJune 15. This is thepeak period of migration,whenKyra Emodozens of unique species of birds visit thepark during their flight to their breedinggrounds in central and northern Quebec.The ground-dwellers include reclusivespecies such as Fox and White-ThroatedSparrows, Hermit and Wood Thrush, theOven Bird and the Junco.The leash law is primarily aimed at protectingground-dwelling birds. Andthough very few ground-dwelling birds actuallynest in the sanctuary, this green‘truck stop’ for birds is a vital link in theirvoyage to reproduce.“The sanctuary is of major importanceto migratory birds,” says bird watcherChristine Murphy, who for the past 18years has been the director of the conservationgroup Bird Protection Quebec(BPQ).“Dogs will definitely have a negative effecton ground-dwelling birds if they areoff the leash and wander away from thepathways. The birds will be harassed andwon’t be able to feed and rest from theirmigration. People can be a disturbance asWestmount makes it to FacebookFormer Westmounter and current NewYorker, Stephen Lunny recently created agroup on the popular networking websiteFacebook (www.facebook.com) called“YOU KNOW YOU’RE FROM WEST-MOUNT WHEN”.It already has 90 members. (To checkout what Stephen’s been up to, go towww.dreamwick.ca.) Attached to the Facebookgroup is the following list.You know you’re fromWestmount when...(Part 1 of 2)...you got your first skateboardfrom Footloose.... “sticking it to the man” meant goingto Dawson instead of Marianopolis.well, but you have to strike a compromiseas so many people use the park, some tobird watch, some to walk their dogs andsome for both. But dog walkers shouldstick to keeping their dogs on the leash,definitely.”Habits varyMurphy, who has been bird watching atSummit Park for twenty years, takes partin the BPQ bird walks on the sanctuaryevery Tuesday morning during the migration.She says that in the morning, whenthere are a lot of birdwatchers, people tendto keep their dogs on the leash. “But laterin the afternoon, when there are less birdwatcherspresent, some people flout theregulations. They let the dogs off theleash.”...you rented your videos fromWestmount Video....your first piece of ID was yourlaminated Westmount pass....you’ve never seen the Westmountflower clock working....you still have trouble finding theWestmount lookout....you used to get your haircut atJean John.......you’ve been startled on Greene Ave.by 60-year-old women with 30-yearoldfaces....you remember the Westmount Parkclimbing tree when it was vertical....you used to live at Calories.... you have fond memories of sleddingat Murray Hill Park.In fact, in a recent survey of the late afternoon,over a two week period, upwardsof 50 percent of dogs roamed the park unleashed.James Novak, Westmount Public Securitycommunity relations officer, says, “Weare doing the best we can under the circumstances,but we can’t stay up there allthe time.”He said that the only real way to stopcontinued abuses at the park would be by“installing an attendee during the migrationperiod... . Maybe we could havevolunteers from the public alerting us. Wereally need public help.“Perhaps installing a phone at the parkso the public could alert us would be a partialsolution. And if we are near the parkwe could react quicker.”...you remember getting candy atHeaven’s on Greene Ave., then goingupstairs for tea with your mom atHeaven’s Above, and having icecream with Selwyn House boys atMacdoherty’s on Sherbrooke St.All that and you still love Oink Oinkon Greene.... you have lunch at Chez Nick’s afterhaving your hair done at Salon Olivierand buying a pair of shoes at Tony’s....you went to daycamp at the WestmountY at some point in your life....you’ve jumped off the high-dive boardat the Westmount pool....as a child you were perturbed bythe seemingly random filled/emptystatus of the ponds and lakes inWestmount Park.Bought & Sold: Real estate since May 1Amount Evaluation Address Buyer(s) Seller(s) Date of sale$6,650,000 $4,900,000 370-382 Victoria 6758762 Canada Inc. Canpro Investments Ltd. May 15$1,555,000 $935,000 669 Belmont Gerry Stefanatos & Shelly Kohut Margarita Xistris &Christopher Gardiner May 15$1,165,000 $1,076,000 68 Belmont Crescent Saroli Palumbo Family Trust Alberto Mare-Scotti May 9$1,100,000 $895,300 419 Landsdowne Bradford Ryan Margot Wayman & J.-M. Ravon May 18$825,000 $900,000 725 Upper Belmont Barry Nashen Caroline Gauthier May 7$815,000 $725,400 507 Claremont Nadia Nabavi Maison Majestueuse Inc. May 15$789,500 $714,700 448 Landsdowne Richard Bond & Ramesh Mirchandani &Catherine McDougall Catherine Graber May 9$745,000 $550,400 1 St. George’s Place Eric Siblin Mark Elkin & Erin Hurley May 15$687,000 $612,000 55 Windsor Christopher Devito & Josy Forget Sian Rowley May 29$419,000 $350,200 331 Grosvenor Milan Jelaca & Rebecca Grant Roland Jonasch & Ivana Gavrilovic May 25$331,000 $347,900 414 Grosvenor Raymonde Chalhoub & Mathilde Flament &Charles Ghoche Samuel Duprieu May 15

McEntyrewinnersThis year the annual writing competitionthat is open to all students fromgrades one to eleven who live or go toschool in Westmount, received a recordbreaking 1,286 entries. Students wrote upto a maximum of 2,000 words on thetopic of dreams, but had to weave the conceptof community into their story orpoem. Each winner received a certificateand a grade appropriate book was donatedon their behalf to the Westmount PublicLibrary.Grade 11 Julia Johnson The Study2 Grace Hogg RoslynGrade 21 Ryan Khanna Selwyn House2 Matthew Behr Selwyn House3 William Bouchard Selwyn HouseGrade 31 Francesca Scardera The Study2 Harriet Cowell Saint-Léon3 Ann O’Brien RoslynHM Charlotte Scott RoslynGrade 41 Caitlin Heiligmann Roslyn2 Alex Zaccour Saint-Léon3 Emilie Hess ECSHM Melissa Anber ECSGrade 51 Alissar Karam The Study2 Tannya Cai ECS3 Ulysses Pamel Selwyn HouseHM George Loutochin Selwyn HouseGrade 61 Qing Yin Wang Roslyn2 Sterling Mitchell Selwyn House3 Samantha Backman The StudyHM Rebecca Dadouche Akiva SchoolGrade 71 Alexandr Magder Selwyn House2 Brandon DiPerno Selwyn House3 Jake Levy Selwyn HouseGrade 81 Malcolm Pinnell Selwyn House2 Kirsten Crandall The Study3 Asli Buyukkurt The StudyHM Susanna Beaudin ECSHM Marcos Ardila-ArchambaultSelwyn HouseGrade 91 Anna Cybulsky The Study2 Kelly Donivan The Study3 Helene Bauer Westmount HighHM Amanda Ip The StudyGrade 101 Kelly Sheehan-Heath Westmount High2 Danielle Hum The Study3 Julia Deutsch The StudyHM Jerome Ramcharitar Westmount HighGrade 111 Patricia Bright The Study2 Patricia Dempsey Westmount High3 Ashley Stanford-Toohen The StudyHM Melissa Angèlica Berman RossWestmount HighBy Marilynn VanderstaayThe fifth annual Westmount SpringSoirée, formerly the Spring Ball, was heldMay 24 with the sold-out participation of180 guests.While the who’s who of Westmountwere there, many dressed in black tie andlong gowns, the event was not about whowas there but about the event itself. In herbrief welcome, Mayor Karin Marks calledthe soirée a celebration of living in Westmount.That celebration comprised bothresidents and former residents, and includedthe twenty-somethings and greatgrandparents.This year the featured artist was accomplishedWestmount painter RoxanneDyer whose red and blue theme of her floralpaintings inspired the colour theme forthe soiree and the invitation.The Spring Soirée committee of sevenchaired by Rosalind Davis and a team ofvolunteers created a unique dining experience.The fun was enhanced by serenadingat the tables by members of the JosephSegreti Band – until 10 pm when the bandstopped playing, the lights were dimmed,the recorded music was cranked up andVictoria Hall started to rock as young andold took to the dance floor.“The soirée was an excuse to have aWESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – June 6, 2007 – 13Westmount Spring Soirée Celebrates WestmountTickets for SecretGarden TourEver wonder what lies behind that backgate?Well, June 14 is the time to find out.That’s when Westmount’s daylong SecretGarden Tour takes place.“It’s an opportunity to visit gardens thatare otherwise inaccessible,” said city horticulturistClaudette Savaria.Eleven gardens have been selected onthis year’s tour for which 125 tickets havebeen made available on a first come, firstserved basis at Victoria Hall.These are spaced throughout Westmountand chosen for particular characteristicssuch as: a rock garden, a verticalgarden, a mix of sun and shade, an eclecticmix of colour, plants and sculpture, anarrow garden, a romantic retreat and aterraced garden. There is also an exampleof one divided into separate garden roomsas an extension of the house.A cost of $35 per ticket includes the listof gardens, a boxed lunch from SimplyWonderful and access throughout the dayto refreshments at La Galerie in VictoriaHall.Coffee will be provided by Café Gourmet,bottled water by the Metro Fletcherstore and juice by Les 5 Saisons.The event is a fundraiser for restoringthe greenhouse totem pole, whose fundnow stands at $2,000, about half the estimatedbudget.Westmounters Stan Grossman, Kathryn Stephenson, former mayor Peter Trent and Anne Dixon-Grossman enjoying the preamble cocktail hour of the Spring Soiree in The Gallery at Victoria Hall.party and have a good time in a beautifulhall in our own city,” said Davis. “Theevening was a great success.When themusic stopped the guests were loathe toleave and the party continued on.”ThankYou!for Supporting ourAuction & Garage SaleYou made this year’s event a great success...with your generous donations,volunteering, advertisingsupport and attendance.You have helped Rotaryhelp others. Thank you.The Rotary Clubof Westmount

14 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – June 6, 2007The WestmountersBy Marilynn VanderstaayThe Montreal police show off theirpark vehicle at Family Day, 2007.Celebrate 150 atManoir WestmountResidents at The Manoirparticipated in Celebrate150, a national consultationproject to preparefor Canada’s 150th anniversaryin 2017. MPMauril Bélanger, visited the residence tohear their memories, vision, ideas andsuggestions. Canadians can participate inthe project by going to www.celebrate150.caAll submissions will be summarizedand collated in a report that willbe made public on July 1.Art at HomeLocal artists, including Westmounters,hosted an Art at Home weekend exhibitionrecently. Guests viewed the art and met theartists: water colourist Jennifer Blachford,photographer Kate Fellerath, art glass specialistCathy Strokowsky, quilter IlyseSegal and oil painter Flora-Lee Wagner.Climate Project messenger at theAtwater LibraryFormer Westmounter Désirée Mc-Graw, is one of twenty of Al Gore’s ClimateProject messengers. She gave her firstpresentation of an adaptation of Gore’sAcademy award-winning documentary AnInconvenient Truth at the Atwater Libraryin conjunction with the Peter McGill CommunityCouncil recently.Richard Lord presented with CommunityServices Award in TorontoWestmount’s own Richard Lord andformer Citizen of Westmount awardeewas the recipient of the Community ServicesAward at the 25th annual Black Businessand Professional Association’s HarryJerome Awards held at Centennial Collegein Toronto last month. Lord, who is part ofthe landscape in Westmount, is wellknown for both his professional and volunteerwork. At 76, he is presently on theboards of the Westmount Lawn BowlingClub, the Royal Commonwealth Society,The Atwater Library, the St. Leonard Societyand is president emeritus of the WestmountHigh Old Boys’ Association. Hewas most recently made the vice presidentof the Montreal Press Club.Lily Lam’s quilt takes grand prize atGrand National Quilt ShowWestmount Quilters Guild presidentLily Lam’s storyteller cape Cloak of Imaginingshe stitched for the Westmount PublicLibrary took grand prize at the GrandNational Quilt Show Fantasy at the Kitchener-WaterlooArt Gallery last month. Thequilt will be exhibited until July 1. Formore information go to www.kwag.on.ca.Westmount Quilters Guild aligns withSports and RecreationThe Westmount Quilters Guild tightenedits relationship with the WestmountSports and Recreation Department recently.The guild will meet every Thursdayevening throughout the year except Julyand August at Victoria Hall. While continuingto be autonomous, the program thatincludes show and tell, ongoing groupprojects, and special workshops will nowbe included in the sports and recreationguide book.Other news from the GuildThe guild displayed its balloon quilt Up,Up and Away, at Family Day. Created as agroup project, it will be donated to theLighthouse, a non-profit organizationwhose mission is to provide support toparents with children suffering from degenerativeterminal illnesses and whosecondition requires complex medical care.Science is Everywhere launchHosted by Montreal Children’s Libraryin collaboration with the Natural Sciencesand Engineering Research Council andthe Pepsi Forum, the Science is Everywhereprogram for 5- to 12-year-olds will belaunched Saturday, June 9 from 10 am to4 pm at the Pepsi Forum. The day will consistof displays and hands-on activities. Formore information call 514.931.2304.Solo show at Avenue Art galleryAvenue Art gallery owner Marina Cutlerand artist Anthony Hobbs celebratedthe opening of Studio 10 King, located at10 King Street, last month with avernissage of Horizons, Hobbs’ most recentlandscape series. The gallery’s fistsolo exhibition at its new location continuesuntil June 16. For more informationphone 514.867.3745.Water colour classes’art vernissagesParticipants of watercolour classes atsister senior residences Westmount Oneand Place Kensington hosted vernissagesof paintings they created under the tutelageof Westmount artist Marcia Roszier.Over 30 paintings were exhibited at WestmountOne with proceeds of sales donatedto the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation.Once again this year the proceedsfrom the annual exhibition and sale atPlace Kensington went to the Montreal Associationfor the Blind.On the shelvesThe Westmount Public Library staffsingled out these books this week:Magazines“My chosen landscape” by Canadianpoet P.K. Page in Poetry magazine, May2007, p. 100 . Poetry magazine has beenpublishing poems since 1912.“Surviving your new CEO” in HarvardBusiness Review, May 2007, p. 62.Fiction:Up from Orchard Street by Eleanor Widmer.An immigrant family story in NewYork’s legendary Lower East Side.Essence (Les extravagantes enquêtesd’Otto et Watson) by Grzegorz Janusz, ahumourous detective story, winner at thefirst Concours européen de la bande dessinée2003.Non-fictionExhibit catalogue for the Bodyworld 2show now at the Montreal Science Centre.Le guide complet du véhicule récréatifLonging for a new homeThis friendly 8-year-old ginger cat isa longtime Westmounter whose owner,sadly, is no longer able to look afterhim. He was taken to the WestmountAnimal Hospital, 349 Victoria Ave.,where he is up for adoption. “He’s justlonging to get out of a cage,” says attendantKrystyna Bruce, also a lifelongWestmounter.Children’sThelonius Monster’s Sky-High Fly Pie: aRevolting Rhyme by Judy Sierra with deliciousdrawings by Edward Koren.Cendrillon d’après Charles Perrault retoldby Anique Poitras and illustrated byGabrielle Grimard.Books on CDRabbit Ears – Treasury of World Tales Acollection of mystical stories read by popularactors and featuring original music bysome of today’s greatest artists.Clémence presqu’intégrale by ClémenceDerochers A compilation of monologuesby this popular Quebec actress and Félixaward winner.ReferenceConsumer Reports: Best Baby Products,9th edition.Annuaire des subventions au Québec :Subventions, Prêts, Bourses, Financement.So you want to self-publish a book?Most self-publishers end up unhappy.• Flawed end-product • Inadequate editing • Too much inventory• Unrealistic expectationsAt Price-Patterson, we’ll tell you what you’ll get andyou’ll get what you pay for.Price-Patterson Ltd.www.pricepatterson.com514.935.4537

WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – June 6, 2007 – 15Trend WatchSalads and dressesAnnika MelansonHave you ever been to a dinner party wearing a $600 dress only tobe greeted by that very same dress worn by another guest? This is theinspiration behind M2, the new boutique that opened at the beginningof May on Victoria Ave. Formerly Candlewax Studio, which has sincemoved, the new dress shop features only two or three frocks in eachstyle. Marcus Mosgrove is the owner of the new boutique and does allof his buying in Italy and China, where the dresses are designed.Marcus chooses silk and cotton (or a blend) and an array of stylesfrom sundresses to cocktail dresses. I have my eye on a gorgeous peach silk tunic… .Prices range from $225 to $375. Dress registries will be offered to M2’s clients, keepinga record of which dress they have selected for a specific event. This way, otherclients can be warned a possible “dress dupe”. M2, 346A Victoria Ave., 514.510.9778.M2 dresses – ready for clients.Going GreenI recently discovered a hidden treasure nestled at the back of Mimi & Coco Boutique:Greens & Co salad bar. My reaction after tasting my first bite: “Why don’t I knowabout this place?” Judging by the long line of women, it’s obvious that many neighborhoodregulars have heard about this hot lunch spot.Greens & Co. is a New York-inspired lifestyle salad bar that opened in June 2004.The concept is to create your own salad with the freshest ingredients and homemadedressings. Mandy, who runs the show, prepares all of the salad dressings and cooks anyingredients that are needed the night before at her home. Nightly, she cooks up to 40chicken breasts. When the demand is higher, she uses her barbeque.From sandwiches to saladsOriginally opened as Coco Café where sandwiches and prepared salads were served,Mandy quickly realized that her clientele is a very health and body-conscious group.All of the salads come in 32 oz. containers, which you can take with you for a bite-onthe-goor enjoy on the spot. For those in a rush, you have the option of calling Mandy,pre-ordering your salad and having it delivered right to your car. Mandy also keeps aRolodex with all of her regular customers’ names and their favourite salad.Ingredients include organic greens, nuts, hearts of palm, avocado, mango, crunchynoodles, brown rice crisps, goat cheese, feta, mozzarella, tofu, tuna and chicken. Thedressings include Asian sesame, cilantro (my favourite), zesty Caesar, Japanese, honeymustard and balsamic.Salads range from $7 to $13. Pricey, but well worth it in my view. By the way, Greens& Co. gives a 10% discount to anyone holding the Mummy card (www.mummieslist.com).Coming soon: a garden terrasse with free wi-fi. Stay tuned. Greens & Co.,4927 Sherbrooke St. West (at the back of Mimi & Coco boutique), 514.227.1640.What’s Cooking in Westmount?DandelionsBy Anthea DawsonWestmount’s Healthy City Project isworking hard to promote dandelions.They were once regarded as pesky weeds,but dandelion flowers and greens are nowpopping up on gourmet menus all overthe place. This new trend may sound odd,but there are a lot of interesting dishes thatcan be made with dandelions, and earlysummer is the best time to do it.The dandelion is the most persistent ofweeds, can grow under the most adverseconditions and is very hard to exterminate.There are no poisonous look-alikes so theyare a good plant to experiment with it incooking. (With all the fertilizers and pesticidesout there, pay attention to whichlawn you pick them from.) The long,deeply toothed green leaves, which gavethe dandelion its name (“dent-de-lion”means “lion’s tooth” in French), has longbeen regarded as a versatile bitter greenthat can turn up in salads or sautéed likespinach.They are at their very best when theyhave just emerged from the ground, beforetheir flowers have appeared. Whenyou are picking your leaves, choose theAdventures next door:Movie Review OnceBy Matthew Brettyoungest looking plants that you can findas they are the least bitter. As the summergoes on, the bitterness becomes stronger.Some people really enjoy the complexflavour, but if it is not your thing, you canalways boil away the bitterness in twochanges of water. Unfortunately, that alsoboils away the vitamins. In fact, the leavesare more nutritious than any green youcan buy in the grocery store – they are richwith beta-carotene, iron and calcium andpacked with vitamins.Not only are the greens packed withflavour but the flower as well – and like theleaves, mid-spring is the best time to trythem out. You only want to use the yellowpart of the flower as the green sepals at itsbase are very strong and bitter. They willadd the most beautiful colours to your saladsand also a very different bittersweetflavour. They can also be steamed or stirfriedwith other veggies, and some peopleeven go so far as to pickle their dandelionflowers.This is the best time of year to experimentwith them, so give dandelions ashot. We might as well put them to gooduse!Like Vincent Gallo’s controversialCannes winner The Brown Bunny, SundanceWorld Cinema Award winner Onceis a fairly static film carried more by theemotive weight of its music than the filmitself. But unlike Gallo’s film, which usesJohn Frusciante’s longing guitar to complementthe scenes, Once makes music itssubject matter and has been described asa musical for the modern age.17-year-old pianist Markéta Irglováplays an unnamed Czech immigrant whosells flowers on the streets of Dublin andlives with her mother and daughter in adrab apartment. She introduces, somewould say imposes, herself upon an unnamedstreet-busker strumming wistfultunes on a withered guitar (played by TheFrames’ guitarist, Glen Hansard) whohelps his father at a vacuum cleaner repairshop. The two quickly end up producingsongs together, and the film traces theirrecording process and their brief flirtatiousrelationship.A love of music is found within thisfilm. For example, when Hansard and Irglováplay their first duo, the whole audienceis part of the session. The handheld,granular quality of Once make it a surprisinglyhonest film. And by making it feellike a home video, viewers are invited intolife’s most private moments with a sinceritythat verges on voyeurism.The same can be said for the music. It’snot the dialogue or the acting that revealsthe characters’ emotive states so much astheir songs. The songs themselves areslightly too wistful and full of regret, andthere is little variation in tone. In fact, itwas so weepy and irritating that my girlfriendleft the film with a headache.Most of the film’s dry spells are broughton by this wistful stupor, but there areenough comedic moments and cleverquips to lift the viewers through the dullparts.The characters’ naïveté, the stunningcoastlines and Dublin’s Irish charm willplease adults, while the film’s quirky bohemianismwill have young adults in innocentrapture. There is a bit of swearing,but buy your teenager a pair of tickets –this is one for the lovers, even if one ofthem does get a headache.

16 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – June 6, 2007TRUST. REACH. RESULTS.BRIAN, TIMOTHY, JOAN McGUIGANAGENTS IMMOBILIER AGRÉES / CHARTERED REAL ESTATE AGENTSThe team at McGuigan Pepin Inc.is eager to serve you, fromthe initial inquiry to the finalclosing details.We are happy to share our36+ years of market knowledgeand invite you to experiencethe difference.514-937-8383 www.McGuiganPepin.com