WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT

August 1, 2007 Westmount’s newspaper. Vol. 1 No. 5

Many fail to heed evacuation orders at Alexis Nihon Fire ignites highrise concerns By Laureen Sweeney never leaving a stove on unattended and in heeding advice to evacuate. A recent highrise fire that caused an es - Failure to follow evacuation procedures timated $100,000 in damage to one apart - also happens at other large buildings, he ment has fanned flames of concern by fire explained. officials and at least one tenant. And longtime Plaza Tower resident Many residents did not evacuate the John Johnson said he believed such com - upper levels of the 33-storey Plaza Tower placency is compounded at his building by For story, apartments as directed during the supper - a number of short-term tenants – “tour - time fire July 17, said Fire Prevention ists” – “who don’t know the procedures.” see paper archive. Chief Daniel de Vries. “The evacuation did not go well be - Welcome to the “Hotel Alexis Nihon”? cause people always think it’s a false And the latest incident, he said, simply alarm,” he explained. fuels the complaints he has voiced over many years to city council alleging the Kitchen gutted build ing operates some units as a hotel. The fire gutted a kitchen on the 17th (Plaza Tower is, in fact, listed in the Yel - floor after a stove burner was reportedly low Pages in English and French under turned on under a coffeemaker while the “hotels”, stating in a display ad that un - tenant went down to the IGA. furnished apartments are “also” available). No injuries were reported, he said, but Johnson, who lives the incident became a good lesson in on the 14th floor, said continued on page 2 Dispatcher Claudette Gauthier signs off By Laureen Sweeney Even as she speaks, she’s interrupted by Affiliated Real Estate Agent a call from a citizen requesting special at - She was on duty for the memorable tention at his property while out-of-town. Buying, Selling Alexis Nihon fire in 1986 and for seven At the same time, there’s information days during Ice Storm in 1998. or Renting coming in from a parking inspector on the And now after 22 years on the job, Please Call Me road, and a patrol car to dispatch. They all Claudette Gauthier is retiring as senior require times and other information to be dispatcher for Westmount’s protective re cord ed. services, at the hub of radio and phone CATHY communications for Public Security, and Calls never stop GORGEOUS “LE ROC the fire department before its move into If ever there was a multi-tasking job, MOORE FLEURI” Montreal’s island-wide service. this is probably it. Fabulous views from 12th floor. Two bed - rooms, two bathrooms, hardwood floors, “We’re the nerve centre,” she says, jug - “It’s our job to be the eyes and ears of 51 4 granite counters. New top of the line gling calls on her last day, Friday the 13th the community,” she ex - 969 -5900 appliances. $795,000 or $4,500/month. (of July). plains. “We even moni - continued on page 2

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They helped with crowd control and as - 55 firefighters on hand to help Alexis Nihon residents sistance to residents in re-entering the building. level of alarm by one because of the evac - PSO Tina Lanzon just happened to be continued from page 1 uation need,” Chief de Vries said. at Alexis Nihon Plaza, parked on St. Cath - the evacuation orders had been very clear. erine St., when the fire trucks began ar - Once the preliminary alarm became a Large firefighter presence riving, he said. She called Sgt. Sedgwick general one (characterized by continuous A total of 55 firefighters and 16 fire en - who joined her at the scene. ringing), “a very loud voice could be heard gines arrived, along with numerous fire Chief de Vries said Westmount was not in the hallway over an intercom alerting cars, vans, and police vehicles. “I counted called because the Plaza Tower was con - everyone to proceed down the stairs as 47 emergency vehicles,” Johnson says. sidered to be in Montreal, but this is being quickly as possible.” While Westmount Public Security was changed to Westmount. The Alexis Nihon He immediately joined those who did not called for assistance by the fire depart - complex straddles the border. leave. ment, two officers were on the scene, said Residents were slowly allowed back in - “There were some people who needed Sgt. Dave Sedgwick. side after about two hours, he said. help badly,” he said. “One man in his eighties, who has trouble walking, told me he had been picked up by a young man and carried down 10 storeys!” Dispatcher to spend This is the French display ad in the 2006 Yellow Evacuation help Pages directory. The English one is on Page 181. more time with family Need assistance in evacuating a house or Registration for evacuation assistance continued from page 1 “My dream,” she says, “would be to apart ment in event of fire or other emergency? According to Chief De Vries, 70 resi - tor the Public Works radio, keep tabs on open up an Angel House to help teens Persons who do are encouraged to register with where their people are and listen for calls who need special care when they transi - the Mont real Fire Department by following dents of the building are registered with the instructions on this form. Once five or the fire department as needing assistance from them for assistance.” tion from the social services system to more residents are re gister ed at any one in evacuation. But he suspects there may Combined with emergency situations living on their own at age 18.” building, its management is notified to record be others who have not registered (see sep - are the more routine calls for lost pets, Not only has Claudette trained nu - those apart ments inside the fire alarm panel, arate story). complaints about cars blocking drive - merous dispatchers over the years, but where they can be quickly found by fire crews. Firefighters assisted those so regis - ways and numerous other daily prob - she also became a strong advocate for tered, starting at the upper floors of the 33- lems with which Claudette has become workers’ rights. She served as president storey building. so familiar. of the city’s white collar union and nego - Interestingly, he said, “people wonder - “Yes. I know who you’re talking tiated its first labour agreement after its ed afterward why we had broken in a door about,” she says to one caller. accreditation. on the 6th floor. It was because one of the Claudette also served one summer as In 1985, when she joined the fire de - residents who left the building told us he a patroller in Westmount Park where she partment, she was one of the first female had left the stove on.” had the opportunity to meet many local dispatchers in the mutual aid system, In the case of the apartment where the residents face-to-face. where her voice quickly became identi - fied with Westmount over the airwaves. fire started, Chief de Vries said the tenant Positive experience discovered it full of smoke on opening the But times change, she notes, with a door. The sprinkler head just inside acti - “I really enjoy speaking with citizens,” hint of nostalgia in her voice. vated simultaneously and the tenant im - she explains. “I’ve always felt part of the She’s already outlasted many of the mediately shut the door and pulled the family here. But it’s time to move on.” staff with whom she worked closely alarm, “which was the right thing to do.” Claudette plans to teach part-time – under crisis situations. she holds an international training cer - Building security called 911 at 6:13 pm Changing times and firefighters from Westmount’s Station tificate in emergency measures commu - 76 and St. Mathieu’s Station 10 responded nications. And one of her greatest feelings of initially, followed by others. “We raised the She also wants to spend more time loss came with the merger of the fire with her family: a daughter, two grand - department into Montreal’s island-wide daughters, and five teenage foster chil - service. With it also went her networking BBQ briquettes dren, three of whom she’s been raising with 911 and Urgences Santé through ignite home for seven years. the dispatching of the first responder Barbecue chefs using briquettes: take heed. Going away? PSOs will check out property A house at 121 Arlington Ave. sustained estimated damages of $20,000 July 7 The Public Security Unit has already re - formation to someone listed as a refer - when a bag of briquettes caught fire. ceived more than 220 requests this year ence. Fire officials said that somehow one or for Special Passing Attention, most related On leaving for vacation, residents are more coals from a hibachi slipped into the to the summer vacation period. advised to cancel newspapers, arrange for bag when more were being added. The Officers call daily at such addresses to the lawn to be mowed, lock all windows bag was subsequently taken inside, its look out for telltale signs of absence that and doors carefully, use timers to turn on contents igniting. Firefighters were called could tip off a would-be burglar. Parcels, lights at night and take other measures to about 6:20 pm. circulars and papers left at the door are give the house a lived-in look. Some of the damage occurred when among the most common problems. The Special Passing Attention service firefighters opened walls to check for pos - Recently, one resident left without lock - may be obtained by calling Public Security sible extension of the fire. ing the front door. Officers relayed the in - at 514.989.5222. WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – August 1, 2007 – 3 Parks master plan to be developed Digging for gas? City council has taken the first steps in The committee is part of a system launching a master plan for the parks and being created to establish rules to evaluate green spaces in Westmount. bids, explained Councillor George Bowser. At a special meeting July 11, a selection Asked after the meeting if the master committee was set up to assess bids for plan happened to be related to citizen re - professional services related to developing quests for a survey of parks and playing the master plan. fields in connection with the renewal of Those named to the committee were the soccer fields in Westmount Park, public works director Jacques Lahaie, city Councillor Bowser said the master plan horticulturist Claudette Savaria, urban had already been planned for some time planning director Joanne Poirier and di - and was not related. rector general Bruce St. Louis.

A number of road reconstruction projects are in full swing and gas leaks caused by excavation are not far behind. Among the incidents reported are this July 16 gas leak on Chesterfield Ave., and one July 23 outside 668 Belmont Ave. Firefighters typically evacuate homes until gas crews cap the leak. Residents may return to discover their gas pilot lights need relighting. Photo by: Robert J. Galbraith

A special thanks ESTATE and To everyone for making going to work a pleas - MOVING SALES ure over the past 49 years at BMO Claremont/ Grosvenor branch. I have met so many nice House Content people and for that I consider myself a very lucky Clearance lady. Thanks for all your cards and, most of RONDA all, thanks for the memories. Sincerely, Betty Devlin 51 4 236-4 159 WESTMOUNT Detached stone – centre hall plan – sun room off living room. Door to Claudette Gauthier on her last day of duty. large new deck, steps to garden. Gran - unit. I would be the one to open up my road,” ite kitchen, mid-level den with open While the communications centre is she says. fireplace, five bedrooms, three and staffed 24 hours a day by three dispatch - “But the most worrisome thing for ers on 8-hour shifts, Claudette has often me was the Ice Storm when I was half bathrooms. Two car in-house been called back from her home in St. ‘locked-in’ here for seven days while my garage. Marvin windows +++. Philippe de Laprairie during major family was in the hardest hit area.” $1,395,000 . emergencies when lines were swamped But, she adds, “I’ve always been proud with calls. to work in Westmount. And I leave with “Sometimes in a snowstorm at night, a sense of accomplishment.” JANE ALLA N▪51 4 762-94 81 ▪51 4 933-5800

Our focus is to manage your wealth effectively. John H. Bridgman Director & Portfolio Manager Robert A. McKenzie, C.A., CFA Director & Portfolio Manager 514-394-3000 4 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – August 1, 2007 At Second Glance: Operation Afghanistan: A PR battle?

By Heather Black be the cause of military deaths, since January only one was combat-related. 19 were With mounting casualties in Afghanistan, many are questioning Canada’s combat caused by IEDs. The Taliban know that military deaths will decrease support in the role. But isn’t creating dissent a Taliban goal? And don’t international missions re - West. quire a more aggressive stance? Look at Bosnia or Rwanda! And their tactics are working. Public support for the mission is down from 2001. To get a clearer view, I spoke to Captain Gabriel Granatstein at the Westmount Ar - The total casualties — now 66 — is unsettling. Yet that number is similar to other mory and surveyed the major media outlets for information. The armory is home to high-risk voluntary services: 75 firemen perished across Canada in the same period. the Royal Montreal Regiment and the 712 Communications Squadron, five soldiers Even peacekeeping held risks for our soldiers, 114 Canadians died from 1948 to 2005. from which have served in Afghanistan. Reality check Peace-Support Operations The consequences for not doing enough are evident this week as the trial of Bosn - At the request of the Afghan government, Canada has three “peace-support oper - ian Commander Rasim Delic progresses. Charged by the UN war crimes tribunal ations”. These include an advisory team to President Karzai; instructors to the Afghan for the former Yugoslavia, he is accused of allowing his men — including 500 mu - National Army; and 2,500 troops for the NATO-led International Security Assistance jahideen — to shoot, torture and behead Bosnian Serb and Croat prisoners. Force (ISAF). And last month we were reminded of UN inaction in Rwanda, when Major ISAF’s goal is to secure areas so that aid distribution and rebuilding can take place. Bernard Ntuyahaga was convicted of murdering 10 Belgium peacekeepers. That event In many areas, schools have reopened and democracy has returned. triggered the pull-out of 2,500 peacekeepers, leaving Canadian General Romeo Dal - But in Kandahar province where our troops are located, it’s a different situation. laire with less than 500 men. His denied request for a force of 5,000 peacekeepers In a televised interview, aid worker Edward McCormick described starving children would have prevented the genocide of 500,000 Tutsis. in refugee camps and called for more troops to secure the area. And in Canada, although jihadists used our Afghan mission as a justification to But without sufficient personnel on the ground, ISAF relies on air strikes against overthrow parliament and behead our prime minister, terrorism was a goal before the Taliban. And since January, with over 1,000 strikes, civilian deaths have increased 2001. Only a kilometer from Westmount, the Millennium Bomber plotted the mur - to over 200 or 300. der of many civilians. Civilian deaths are what the Taliban want Reaching consensus Like Hamas and Hezbollah, jihadists use villagers as shields. Lotfullah Mashal of Recently, Prime Minister Harper spoke of a need for consensus on our Afghan the Afghan Security Council told Al Jazeera: “Now the Taliban are intentionally try - mission. Yet according to a recent poll, only 23 percent of Canadians think that the ing to increase civilian casualties to increase civilians’ anger at the government.” And government has effectively explained Afghanistan. at ISAF. But it’s important to note that progress is being made in Kandahar. Returning But the Taliban’s use of suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) members of the 712 Communication Squadron have told Captain Granatstein, that has increased casualties. While the combat role is considered by many politicians to life is improving for local villagers on many levels. And that’s what we want to hear! Do you see stars? Westmount’s light problem By Eve Aspinall Light pollution has crept up on us grad - course. In Florida, sea turtles currently are see clearly and/or hinders people’s activi - ually. It has an impact on each of us in endangered by light pollution. Bats, which ties. Glare can be hazardous to cyclists, When night falls, can you look up and many ways. It diminishes the quality and help to control the increasingly dangerous drivers and pedestrians. Urban sky glow see the stars? Are they bright and clear? quantity of sleep and increases stress. We mosquito population, are particularly comes from light reflected upward instead What about the Milky Way, the Big Dipper can no longer enjoy our astral skies. It dis - averse to bright light and now are rarely of downward where it is needed and re - or the Little Dipper? Maybe not, not any - turbs animal life, stopping reproduction seen locally. Excessive light is costing us a sults in the orangey glow that has replaced more. Ten or 15 years ago they shone when bright lights disturb their habitat lot of money and wasting a vast amount of the once inky black, star-studded sky. All brightly and were clearly visible. and causes migratory birds to fly off power when we should be reducing our three forms waste significant amounts of consumption. energy. For every hour a given light is on, additional greenhouse gases plus the by- Twice monthly Montreal as bright as New York (1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month), products of the power generating process WESTMOUNT next issue: August 15 In satellite photos of the world at night are released into the atmosphere. made by NASA, Montreal shines as Westmount (H3Y and H3Z): What we can do INDEPENDENT 10,000 copies by Canada Post brightly as all of New York City, although 200 copies distributed to over the population of New York is five times With global warming an imminent We are Westmount. 30 waiting-room drops that of Montreal! Furthermore, the threat, it behooves all of us to do our part amount of energy used by North Ameri - to lessen our contribution. There are IF YOU DON’T WANT TO GET OUR PUBLICATIONS, Canada Post advises that you place a sticker on your mailbox that cans is about twice that of the European many things that citizens can do. says, ‘No ad mail.’ SI VOUS NE VOULEZ PAS REÇEVOIR NOS PUBLICATIONS: Malheureusement, nous ne sommes pas capable de bloquer une adresse individuelle. Il faut mettre une étiquette près de votre fente à lettres qui lit «Pas de average and five times as much as devel - 1. Lower the wattage of bulbs and use média-post e». IF YOU DO WANT TO RECEIVE OUR PUBLICATIONS AND YOU HAVE A STICKER ON YOUR oped Asian countries. Canadians top the environmentally friendly light bulbs. By MAILBOX (or are outside our distribution area), please send a cheque for $1.50 x the number of issues left in the year. We will mail them to you for the rest of the current calendar year. scales. lowering wattage of outside lights, you Light pollution covers three main areas: gain greater visibility, making it easier to Advertising sales: Editor: light trespass, glare and urban sky glow. see into the shadowy areas of your garden. David Price 514.935.4537 Sandy Cobrin 514.670.0432 Annika Melanson 514.223.3567 Light trespass refers to the spillage outside Using lower wattages both indoors and Chief reporter, of its designated area, e.g. light shining outdoors will save money and energy. Published by Sherbrooke-Valois Inc. Laureen Sweeney 310 Victoria Ave., Suite 105 onto other people’s property or into their 2. Turn lights on only when needed. Layout: Westmount, QC H3Z 2M9 homes. Glare is created by blinding or haz - Dawn-to-dusk lights Studio Melrose /Ted Sancton Fax: 514.935.9241 ardous lighting that impedes the ability to are wasteful and in - continued on the next page WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – August 1, 2007 – 5 August 13 is Judgement Day Retailers fight breast cancer Westmounter (and son-in-law of Bead Emporium owner Ruth Shine) Lupo Masse Blume is “using water as a vehicle for aware ness” by launching the Chain of Hope campaign. Businesses can con - tribute to breast cancer awareness by pledging that they will raise $1,000 by sell - ing Hope in Bottle spring water within a one year period. Many Westmount merchants are par - ticipating, including Metro Fletcher, Pom’ Canelle, Mademoiselle Pinki, Ber tucci De - signs, Elite Laser, Movieland and Coral. Lupo Masse Blume Reality check cancer research, but what is needed is ed - A brush with death after being diag - ucation and awareness.” nosed with meningitis in 2005 gave He goes on to explain that breast can - Masse Blume a “reality check.” It was then cer is one of the illnesses with the highest that the charismatic, Peruvian-born dy - survival rate when detected early; hence namo decided to launch Hope in a Bottle. the need for women to be educated about The founder of Aqua Media, a market - early detection and lifestyle choices that ing company that uses the labels on bot - can help in reducing chances of them suc - tled water to promote advertising, has cumbing to this devastating disease. The Communities in Bloom flag was raised July 11 in front of city hall by Mayor combined his marketing expertise and Lupo sums up his efforts by passion - Karin Marks (right foreground) and (from left) Councillors John de Castell, Nicole philanthropic nature. ately saying “every Chain of Hope mem - Forbes, George Bowser and Patrick Martin. For each bottle he sells, he donates 10 ber has a chance to join and make a dif - Westmount is competing in the national competition against five cities in its pop - percent of the wholesale price to the Que - ference.” ulation category: Langford and Westbank, BC; Lloydminster, Sask.; Grande Prairie, bec Breast Cancer Foundation. His water To become a link in the Chain of Hope, Alta.; and Charlottetown, PEI. is sold in over 200 Metro stores across contact Masse Blume at 514.845.2782, Participating communities will be judged on a number of criteria involving over - Quebec. Says Masse Blume: “One can [email protected], www. hopeinabot - all beautification, landscaping, environmental programs and cleanliness. write a cheque and put it towards breast tle.ca. Residents are being asked to ensure their properties are particularly well groomed and lanes beautified for the arrival of judges August 13. A special appeal is also being made to merchants to spruce up their store fronts, which will, in turn, make them more inviting to customers. Letters to the editor Where has Greta been? Je me souviens: Conrad Black 4. Ensure that all lights point down - I recently received your July 4, 2007 Conrad Black always has been a great Stars... continued from previous page ward. edition of the Westmount Independent , and defender of Quebec's English minority. effective; sensor lights provide more secu - 5. When the temperature in winter was not pleased at what I discovered, in Westmounters should not forget that. rity. They are a greater deterrent because reaches -18°, make sure to lower your elec - fact, did not discover within the pages. Here is what he told the Toronto Board of of the element of surprise to unwanted trical use, particularly from 4 to 8 o’clock WHERE was Greta von Schmedlapp? Trade 10 years ago: criminals and vandals. Moreover, they at - at night. WHAT kind of publication is this to let a “The fact is that English Quebec has tract both the homeowner’s and the neigh - poor old lady lose her job?! We need her been subject to a shocking sequence of bours’ attention. Power consumption is re - back: a sense of humour and fun infor - provocations, has been largely abandoned duced, as well as the financial cost. Births, deaths mation are urgently requested from your by its brothers elsewhere in Canada, and 3. Be a good neighbour. Outdoor light - publication. yet it is all that has held Canada together in ing should be respectful of the rights and and marriages WHERE is she?!!! two referenda.” privacy of one’s neighbours. Avoid light - FREE: Name, date and name of event. Mrs. R. Takeishi As chairman of Southam, this Mon - ing up their property. Limit the number of For any additional message, $ 1 per Frustrated Westmount reader treal-born publisher made sure there was lights. Too much light can be overwhelm - word, prepaid by cheque to Sher - [Ed.’s note: Greta will return in the next no ambiguity about The Gazette 's dedica - ing. It also reduces its effectiveness and di - brooke-Valois Inc. issue of the Westmount Independent .] tion to a united Canada. minishes visibility. Edward W. Barrett , Kensington Ave. 6 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – August 1, 2007 Totem pole fund reaches $6,000 Building permit s: What’s Going On? By Laureen Sweeney The following 52 work permits for new 4815 de Maisonneuve: to resurface driveway construction, alterations and plumbing were and do rear patio; approved by Westmount city council at a spe - 820 Upper Belmont: to replace some win - A BC totem pole in a tropical forest? cial meeting July 11. dows; A most unlikely place, you may say. But 4560 St. Catherine: to replace doors and 4837 de Maisonneuve: landscaping includ - we’re talking about the tropical room in windows; ing a new fence and planting areas, and to Westmount’s greenhouse. And that’s the 624 Belmont: to replace some windows; redo the walkway and driveway; humidity-controlled environment that’s 9 Murray: to modify openings on the south 458 Claremont: to replace some windows considered best suited to prevent further side; and doors; deterioration of the totem pole whose 4407-4415 St. Catherine: to replace certain 617 Victoria: to enlarge a rear opening; restoration has been the objective of many doors; 642 Belmont: to replace some windows and fundraising projects. 398 Roslyn: rear landscaping, including a doors; With the fund now reaching some deck, door and fence; 362 Grosvenor: landscaping to include new $6,000 after events this summer, the 625 Côte St. Antoine: to replace some doors planting areas, and to resurface the drive - totem’s refurbishing appears imminent. and windows; way and walkway; “We’re now looking for restorers,” said 370 Kensington: to replace some doors and 17 Anwoth: to renovate rear decks; city horticulturist Claudette Savaria in an - windows, and to block up some existing 465 Mount Stephen: to erect a wrought iron nouncing this year’s proceeds to the fund. openings and enlarge others; fence; A suitable location for its permanent in - 7 Anwoth: to replace some windows; 390 Grosvenor: to replace some windows; stallation also remains to be chosen. 4868 Sherbrooke: to erect a sign for Bark 4688 Westmount: to replace some windows and Fitz; and a balcony door; The Secret Garden Tour netted more 328 Victoria: alterations to front basement 481 Victoria: to replace some windows; than $4,000 to add to the $700 from the entrance; 85 Church Hill: landscaping to include a sale of plants at the Plant Exchange and 474 Mount Pleasant: to replace some win - field stone patio and path in front yard; Family Day. dows and modify some openings; 4464 St. Catherine: to erect a sign for Home The pole requires cleaning, consolida - 519 Claremont: front and back landscaping Care Assistance; tion of flaking paint, removal of fungus or including new planting beds and paving 14 Surrey Gardens: to build a rear extension; other types of growth, the matching of of garage entry; 152-154 Abbott: to install two awnings; colours, repairs and installation. 687 Grosvenor: to erect a fence in rear yard; 131 Clandeboye: to replace front door; Virginia Elliott, Assistant Community 3236 The Boulevard: to replace some win - 5025 Sherbrooke: to install a sign for Relations Coordinator, says this year’s dows; Unipharm at Westmount Medical Build - mounting of the totem on a base has 80 Belvedere: to replace some windows; ing; stemmed some deterioration caused by its 3202 The Boulevard: to restore the front 745 Upper Belmont: to replace some win - Virginia Elliott, says she has “fallen in love” with porch and replace roofing material; dows; contact with the ground. the totem pole in its temporary home in the 4 Chesterfield: to replace the back door; 12 Burton: to replace some windows; The 12-foot totem pole was a star fea - greenhouse. ture in the Campbell garden at 21 Edgehill 633 Belmont: to replace a rear door and 627 Lansdowne: to enlarge two rear window block and opening; openings; Rd. after it was reportedly brought back 324 Elm: to replace basement windows; 807 Lexington: landscaping to include plant - from BC in 1927 by a family member. Its 406 Côte St. Antoine: to replace front pave - ing beds, hedges, fence and terrace in rear cultural origins are unknown. ment and gate; yard; After Westmount acquired the Camp - 44 Arlington: to extend rear balcony; 60 Rosemount: rear landscaping to include bell garden land, the totem was donated to 331 Redfern: to erect a new fence; a new patio, fence and planting beds; the city and eventually came to stand in 15 Willow: to replace some windows and 20 Sunnyside: to replace some windows; the playground of Westmount Park. doors; 558 Victoria: to replace some windows; Somewhat faded from the elements, its 639 Belmont: to replace some windows; 525 Mount Pleasant: to repair and modify restoration has been taken on as a special 468 Strathcona: landscaping, including ren - entry stairs; project by the city’s Horticultural Advisory ovation of front balcony and to redo side - 4827 de Maisonneuve: to cut five unhealthy Committee (HAC). walk and driveway; trees. Tax $ at work Water line renewal and garbage pickup lead spending

A breakdown of the tenders and pur - Services Sanitaires in the amount of Construction Inc. for $89,637; chases accepted (contractors, and costs $326,740; • Supply of computer hardware equip - with taxes included) at a special meeting • Insertion of a structural liner in the ment, by Dataworld (Canada) Inc. in the of city council July 11 were: water line on Belvedere Place, by Aqua amount of $13,983; • Renewal of contracts for the collection Rehab Inc., for $80,624; • Supply of two distribution transformers and disposal of refuse in four sectors (A, • Replacement of a water service line on as part of the refurbishing of Block Q212 C, D, and E) for a 12-month period start - Belvedere Place, by Les enterprises Can - for Hydro Westmount, by Transforma - ing Oct. 1, to Enlèvement de Déchets bec Construction Inc. for $99,137; teur Pioneer Ltée for $27,240; and, Bergeron Inc. in the amount of • Insertion of a structural liner in the • Labour and material to replace old lamp- $1,231,959; water line on Wood Ave., by Aqua Rehab post bases and to carry out conduit work • Renewal of the contract for the collection Inc. for $98,498; on Mount Pleasant Ave. (Sherbrooke to The totem pole as it stood in the playground of and disposal of refuse in sector B for a • Replacement of a water service line on Holton), by Les Entreprises Transelec- West mount Park. 12-month period starting Oct. 1, to JR Wood Ave., by Les Enterprises Canbec Common Inc. in the amount of $37,212. WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – August 1, 2007 – 7 Back-t0-school trends as hot as summer

Is it really time to be thinking about re - “With boys, navy is always big. Brown, turning to school? too. It took awhile for people to accept it With CEGEPs opening in two-and-a- but brown is big, for both boys and girls. half weeks and Westmount’s public and Earth tones are big.” private schools following quickly behind, the answer is a surprising “yes.” Webkinz joins ranks of Cabbage Patch While savouring the (gulp) last days of Kids, Elmo and Beanie Babies summer, parents are half-heartedly plan - At Westmount Stationery, owner ning their children’s return to school and Thomas Forestell is fighting to keep up beginning the attendant shopping. with a latest craze: stuffed animals called In early July, fall clothes started “flying Webkinz. “They continue to be our most off the shelves” at LMNOP children’s popular product. We had trouble keeping boutique, said Shelley Kerman, who, with them in stock this spring, but we are well Sharyn Fagan, owns the 4919A Sher - supplied at the moment.” brooke St. store. In mid-July, snowsuits arrived The back-to-school staple A must for any child is that back-to- Earth tones are out of this world school staple, the all-important backpack. So what are the hot colours for this au - Disney’s brilliantly marketed and ubiq - tumn? uitous Princesses continue to be favoured “Pink is always in for girls,” said Ker - by the under-10 girl crowd, as does Barbie. man, who knows a thing or two about Dora is also popular this upcoming fall such matters, having run the kids’ cloth - season. ing store for 16 years. “You can’t ignore With the younger boys, Spiderman is pink. But reds are also big. Burgundy. edging out SpongeBob SquarePants, as he Olives and earth tones. has for a while now.

Shelley Kerman, co-owner of Sherbrooke St. children’s boutique LMNOP, talks snowsuits – yes, Potter mania hits Westmount snowsuits – with a young customer.

Babar en ville hosted a memorable by Hagrid and Draco Malfoy and Profes - evening on Friday, July 20 in honour of sors Snape and Trellawny. The party Teen cyclists fined the launch of J. K. Rowling’s last of the started at 10:30 pm and went on until 1 Two teenagers were ticketed July 16 Potter series: Harry Potter and the Deathly am. More than 200 people attended and for riding their bicycles in Westmount Hallows . While anxious Potter fans lined over 100 books were sold. “This was a Park after a previous warning, public up at the entrance to the bookstore, they memorable community event for fellow safety officials report. The statements of were entertained by fire spinners and met Potter readers,” said Maya Byers, the offence carried $37 fines. Parents of the youths were informed. On July 19, a man was issued a $75 fine for carrying a small pocket knife. He came to the attention of officers when asked to leave Westmount Park at 3:15 am because of the parks curfew. Act - ing nervously, he apparently admitted to carrying a knife. Two days later, at 2 pm, a man with Good living comes with no known address was reported to have been drinking beer at Sherbrooke and age. Why not retire in perfect Roslyn. Police were called to help iden - elegance and ultimate com - tify him. Intoxicated, the man had no fort? Our caring staff will known address. He was also issued a $75 fine. tend to all your needs 24 hours every single day. Now you won’t have to Please call us regarding our wait for the Montreal Gazette ’s Wednesday affordable rentals: ‘Driving’ section to read the advice of one of Montreal’s most prominent lawyers. Some of the decorations set up for the Deathly Hallows launch. A V IVVA CITY GUIDE 8 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – August 1, 2007 Bought & Sold: Real estate registered since June 27

Address Valuation Price Sellers Buyers Date 610 Argyle Ave. $1,160,700 $1,495,000 The Memphre Trust Mark & Karen Parry Billings 06/27 7 Belfrage Rd. $711,800 $838,000 Sun Qian Jennifer Shaw 06/29 55 Belvedere Circle $2,650,000 $5,250,000 Guy Casgrain 9184-0413 Quebec Inc. 06/27 3306 Cedar Ave. $909,000 $1,035,000 Leslie Martino Samuel Ramsey 06/27 4380-4382 Côte des Neiges $505,300 $110,000 Benoit Turcotte Isabelle Therrien 06/28 9 De Casson Rd. $753,500 $1,000,000 James Little & Marie-Josée Castonguay Bruno Roy & Isabelle Folco 06/29 461 Elm Ave. $522,000 $760,000 Claude Letellier de Saint-Just Janet MacKinnon & Marie Vegiard 06/29 655 Grosvenor Ave. $723,600 $1,225,000 Mark Chistolini Paul Levesque & Lucie Jean 06/28 659 Grosvenor Ave. $823,300 $1,090,500 Carl Sigmund Bang Isabelle Landry & David Perlman 06/29 673 Grosvenor Ave. $790,800 $850,000 Bernice Landry Frank Gianniosis & Panagiota Kalfantis 06/25 341 Metcalfe Ave. $872,000 $735,000 Succ. de Diana Eveline Norris Barbara Pollock 06/27 228 Prince Albert Ave. $563,300 $630,000 Patrick Yves Andres Hubert Savoie & Camille Habel 06/28 339 Prince Albert Ave. $784,800 $840,000 Howard Firestone & Theresa Sheila Hogan Jean-Luc Isnardi & Marie Isnardi 06/28 17 Severn Ave. $633,600 $1,495,000 Carlo Verrrilo & Vanessa Pizzi Robert Anastasopoulos 06/27 3171 St. Antoine St. $235,600 $250,000 Christian Kier Osman Izaz & Nazish Hussain 06/28 4700 St. Catherine #504 $866,300 $825,000 Rachel Lebel Nancy Nadler 06/29 617 Victoria Ave. $600,000 $665,000 Claudine Couture-Trudel Jonathan Tétrault & Elizabeth Camiré 06/28 1 Wood #510 $708,800 $635,000 Helen Gross Alexandre Gliklad 06/26 622 Belmont Ave. $1,142,300 $1,450,000 Linda Jane Shaw Bernard Anzarouth & Cindy Morantz 07/06 646 Carleton Ave. $1,900,000 $2,650,000 Denis Hennion & Sophie Tscheltzoff Jamesine McKeever 07/05 24 Forden Ave. $1,608,900 $1,550,000 Nancy Veinish Antony Kovic & Donna-Lynn McMurray 07/10 435-9 Grosvenor (usufruit, 2.63%) $4,600,000 $162,500 Développement Villa Grosvenor Inc. Louis Chapelain 07/05 352 Kitchener Ave. $741,300 $819,000 Marguerite Laflamme James Bowker & Arlene Kipling 07/09 4495 Sherbrooke St. $530,000 $699,000 David Gilmour & Maryse Sauvé 6796311 Canada Inc. 07/10 16 Springfield Ave. $423,800 $580,000 Dietrich Karau & Sylvia Borau George Peter Vaitkunas & Karla Gruodis 07/11 45 Stayner St. $389,300 $477,500 Susan Anne Hislop McShane Jones & Elena Postnikova Jones 07/10 4830 St. Catherine St. $381,000 $545,000 Peter Blusanovics & Diana Coviello Robert Lewandowski & Anne Latour 07/03 465 Strathcona Ave. $1,040,700 $1,000,000 Succ Nancy Carrell Jean-Christophe Renondin & Laurence Milot 07/03 488 Strathcona Ave. $1,015,500 $1,750,000 Barry Anthony Cohen Kaplan Family Trust 07/09 24 Willow Ave. $685,300 $1,350,000 Guy Laframboise & Vannessa Benitz Leslie Martino 07/03 Three 100-year birthday celebrations

A very special birthday party took place who have lived through almost the entire at Place Kensington on July 18 to celebrate 20th century as well as the beginning of the birthdays of three resident centenari - the 21st, a luncheon was served. “Cente - ans: Evelyn Alexander (born in Montreal narian and Plus Club” certificates and June 29, 1907), Harriet Cohen (born in white teddy bears were given to each one. Brooklyn, NY June 30, 1907) and Hedwig An exhibit made from newspaper ex - (Heddy) Unterberg (born in Vienna, Aus - cerpts looking back at our world over the tria July 3, 1907). last 100 years was on display, highlighting All three have spent most of their adult events that these ladies have experienced lives in Montreal. To honour these ladies during their lifetime.

Heddy Unterberg, Harriet Cohen and Evelyn Alexander WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – August 1, 2007 – 9

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Selling real estate in Westmount and NDG for over 35 years. 514-937-8383 Our team of real estate experts is ready to work for you. L’immobilier à NDG et à Westmoun t : notre affaire depuis plus de 35 an s ! Notre équipe de professionnels est à votre service. 10 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – August 1, 2007 The Westmount Gardener Westmount Today, Yesterday and Before Cleaning up Origins of Westmount Park By Doreen Lindsay

By Stuart Robertson rative plants. Pull them out, roots and all, Question: Who wanted to create Westmount Park? For answer see p. 12. as soon as possible before any of them A few garden chores can make all the flower and spread their seeds in your gar - difference between an ordinary garden den. They can be thrown onto the compost and a well-kept, smart-looking one: things as long as they don’t have any seeds yet. like trimming and weeding – particularly Ⅲ One sure way to combat more weeds since Westmount will soon be visited by growing is to use a thick layer of mulch to the judges of the Communities in Bloom cover any exposed soil. organization. Ⅲ Any lawn weeds that you missed in the Getting rid of weeds is not just for the spring could be getting large by now. Even sake of aesthetics. They rob the soil of if you’ve been mowing the tops off the water and nutrients and compete heavily dandelions and plantain, the roots are still with your own plants. there, getting stronger by the day, so they Ⅲ A simple operation which makes the must be removed. Dig them out, roots and lawn and garden look 100 percent neater all. is to trim all the edges of the lawn where Dandelion roots have a single long and they meet garden beds. Over the season, deep taproot that must be cut deeply with the grass creeps in towards the soil and a special tool about four to six inches makes the edges look sloppy. Use an edg - below the surface. ing spade (the one with the half-circle Plantain has many short roots which blade) or a sharp garden spade to re-cut are quite tenacious, but the same tool will Westmount Park, established in 1898 to provide a large central park for recreation, relaxation and the edges about half an inch back. Slope remove them too. When you remove a contemplation with nature. the handle of the spade about 20 degrees large weed, fill the remaining bare spot back towards you, so the edge slopes gen - with some soil and then grass seed so Wearing Westmount to raise money tly down to the soil. Throw the trimmed more weeds won’t grow. bits into your compost. Canadian Hadassah-WIZO (CHW) will CHW is the biggest non-political Manure tea be hosting its 17th annual gala dinner and women’s volunteer organization in A lot of people have asked me how to fashion show on August 20 at 6 pm at Canada providing support for women and make manure tea as a fertilizer. You have Centre Mont-Royal (2200 Mansfield). The children in Israel through schools, shel - to soak a bag of manure in a bucket of theme is “Wearing Westmount”. ters, counseling and youth centres. This water overnight, which is not always easy Many Westmount fashion retailers are year’s goal is to raise $100,000. for the city gardener. There is an easier participating: Bloom Maternity, Mimi & To contribute to this cause or to pur - way to brew it nowadays. A Canadian busi - Coco, Lululemon, Boutique Emma, chase tickets to the event contact CHW, ness called The Barnyard Tea Company Georges Rech, LMNOP, James, Bella, Col - 1310 Greene Ave., suite 910, 514.933.8461. makes easy-to-use “tea bags” filled with lange, Rivet Laundry, M2 and Trink. Tickets start at $100. composted manure. You pop one of them into two litres of hot water and let it sit for 24 hours. (You can make larger quantities Since 1924. Trimming edges can make a big difference. In Westmount for 60 with more bags.) Then water all your flow - years. Ⅲ Look around your garden carefully for ers, vegetables and container plants with Massimo Brunetti, Outlet Manager Aerus. Your original manufacturer 353 Victoria Ave, Westmount HAIR STYLING FOR MEN any weeds that have escaped your atten - the odourless 2-3-2 mixture for a gentle, & authorized provider of parts & services for all 1924-2003 514.489.9353 tion so far. By now they will be getting organic fertilizer boost. Throw the used Electrolux vacuums. [email protected] 51 4.484.5987 quite tall, and hiding in among your deco - “tea bags” into the compost. 4970 Sherbrooke Street West

Furniture tailored to your taste and budget We custom-make sofas, love seats, armchairs ARARAT RUG ongles nails and ottomans in your choice of our fabrics. 3457 Park Avenue Mod ’s WAVERLY ROBERT ALLEN ® (cross-street: Sherbrooke) OSBORNE & LITTLE • Manicure ® C OLEF AX 10% OFF • Pedicure AND FOWLER Specialist in • Acrylic We have 20 years of home decorating with this ad service specializing in sl ipcovers, Oriental Rugs valid until Oct 1, 2007 • Gel upholstery, draperies, bedspreads Monday – Friday: and duvet covers. K 9:30 am – 5:30 pm New, Used & Antique So furnish your home Saturday by 1208 Greene Avenue KaOthryn Osborne appointment only. 8 am - 5 pm Monday to Saturday at Kathryn Osborn e’s. DESIGN D’INT ÉRIEUR INC. 1357 avenue Greene, 2 e étage, Westmount, Québec H3Z 2A5 Westmount Tél.: (514) 931-1357 • Fax: (514) 931-0101 • www.kathrynosbornedesign.com 514 288- 1218 Tel: 514.935-9827 WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – August 1, 2007 – 11 12 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – August 1, 2007 History quiz: Westmount Park The Westmounters the result of many people’s efforts New Rec Activities Guide coming tary year begins July 1 and Question from page 10: Who wanted to To fulfill the third ideal and also to cel - to a mailbox near you Borrelli gave an over view of create Westmount Park? ebrate Queen Victoria, Westmount citi - Canada Post will be distributing the the year ahead. The West - Answer: The Côte St. Antoine Im - zens decided to build a public library and Fall/Winter 2007-08 Culture, Sports and mount Rotary meets every provement Committee in 1890. a cultural centre in the park. The cultural Recreation Activities Guide to all West - at 12:30 pm every Wed nes - In my last article (“Who owned WEST centre was named Victoria Hall. mount households beginning Wednesday, day at Victoria Hall, 4626 MOUNT?”), I mentioned that William In 1874 Montreal hired Frederick Law August 8. The guide provides all kinds of Rotary President Sherbrooke St. W. For in - Murray sold 10 acres of his land for a park Olmsted (who had designed New York’s useful information on Westmount Rec Heather Borrelli formation, contact 514. 935. below Sherbrooke St., which had just been Central Park in the 1850’s) to come to programs as well as on upcoming activi - 3344 or [email protected] extended this far west. Land was also Montreal and design Mount Royal Park. It ties and events at the arena, library and bought from J. H. Shearer, Thomas Bade - opened on Victoria Day, 1876. Some coun - Victoria Hall. AffiliationQuebec leader at Rotary nack, H. L. Penny and Smith & Watson for cillors wanted to ask Olmsted to work out Molière in the park Westmounter Allen Nutik, well known a total of 20 acres. The land extended from a plan to convert our wooded ravines into to Westmounters for his mayoral and city Sherbrooke St. to Western Ave. (now de parkland for residents, but other council - Free theatre in the park? Sign us up. council campaigns, addressed the West - Maisonneuve Blvd., this section of which lors thought his fee of $1,000 too high. Al - Actually there is no need to sign up or reg - mount Rotary on July 25 in his capacity as is now closed to traffic) and from Melville though he did not design our park, it had ister. Just show up at Westmount Park for leader of the newly formed provincial po - Ave. to the rear of the properties on Lans - many of the features that Olmsted estab - the Repercussion Theatre’s production of litical party, AffiliationQuebec. downe Ave. lished in Central Park: a variety of trees, Molière’s play Scapin in English on Satur - The new party is focused on restoring separate areas for relaxation, reading, day, August 18, and in French, as the orig - and protecting minority rights in Quebec Westmount Park is our oldest park walking paths, even twig bridges to sur - inal Les fourberies de Scapin , on Sunday, and is also critical of the province’s mu - The Côte St. Antoine Improvement round the ravines similar to those built in August 19. Both performances are to be - nicipal demerger legislation for not going Committee’s recommendation that the The Rambles in Central Park. gin at 7 pm. The rain venue is the Lodge far enough. town purchase 16 acres of still undevel - Room inside Victoria Hall. For more in - In his remarks, Nutik praised the ef - oped land finally became a reality in 1898. Growth and repair formation, please call 514.989.5226 or see forts of Keith Henderson’s Equality Party, The Town of Côte St. Antoine had become Later, the Glen stream and some www.westmount.org. The Repercussion of Bill Johnson and of Howard Galganov the Town of Westmount in 1895 and two ravines were filled in and other ravines Theatre’s website is www.repercussion the - and excoriated the federal Liberals and years later people were looking for ways to had cobblestone retaining walls built to atre.com and the telephone number is Conservatives, as well as the provincial celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Ju - stop erosion. Additional land was added, 514.931.2644. Liberals, Parti Québécois and ADQ for bilee. In 1898 they named the newly cre - landscape architects were called in to tidy Free Sunday concerts by the lagoon abuse and non-defence of rights. ated parkland Victoria Jubilee Park . up the original forested land, a bandstand The free summer Sunday concerts by He also singled out the Montreal When Westmount created parkland out was designed and flowerbeds created. the lagoon continue at Westmount Park. Gazette for stern criticism as a member of of woodlands and deep ravines, it was fol - Then, after a period of neglect, a major L’esprit de la Nouvelle-Orléans will play Quebec’s anglo “lamb lobby.” lowing the ideal of the times. There was a facelift was undertaken in 1964. jazz from 2 pm to 4 pm on Sunday, Au - Nutik went on to characterize Jean feeling all across North America that a city Today Westmount Park consists of 26 gust 5. Jazz is also on tap when the Jon Charest as “the emperor with no clothes”, needed a place for recreation, a place for acres and is the second largest park in Geary Trio play, also from 2 pm to 4 pm, but many broken promises in areas such communication with nature and a focus Westmount. The largest is the Summit on Sunday August 12. The rain venue is as tax cuts, demergers, medical wait times for civic life. and Belvedere Park consisting of 57 acres. the Lodge Room inside Victoria Hall. For and the English superhospital. more information, please call 514. 989. Nutik was nothing if not empassioned, 5226 or see www.westmount.org. comparing students’ forced attendance at French-language schools to “madrassas” On the shelves Rotarians’ new president sets course and the plight of federalists in Quebec to a Members of the Westmount Rotary lion’s den. heard from their new president, Heather He ended with a plea for members and Among the new arrivals at Westmount Pub - 101 idées d’activités estivales au Québec , tips on Bor relli, at their July 4 meeting. The Ro - support, “The time to join us is now.” lic Library singled out by the library staff are: what to do and where to stay when you go bi - Magazines cycling, hiking, starwatching, birding, kayak - ing etc. in our province Atlantic Monthly , July/August (China issue) We need your support to help underprivileged children Harvard Health Letter , July/August, “In search Children’s go Back-to-School with Heads-Held-High! of a safe suntan” Romeo’s Ex, Rosaline’s Story by Lisa Fiedler, Ros - For as little as the cost of one coffee a day, you Arthur Frommer Budget Travel , July/August, aline is given a different destiny can impact the future of a child. “My Montreal is better than yours”, p. 53, rec - Atelier Filles – 100 bricolages créatifs et rigolos , A gift of $ 15 can help finance one child’s school bag. ommendations from the foodblog endless - contains wonderful ideas for crafts. banquet.blogspot.com A gift of $ 30 will support the back-to-school needs of two Books on CD children, while a gift of $60 will help provide a school bag Fiction A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, filled with new supplies to four very happy children. The Black Quarto – An Imogen Quy (College another story of Afghanistan by the author Nurse) Mystery by Jill Paton Walsh of the bestselling and popular bookclub Join Welcome Hall Mission in this great fight against Non-fiction choice, The Kite-Runner the drop-out phenomenon in our province. Fight against The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls by poverty! Give today and invest in the future of a child . The World Without Us by Alan Weisman, what Elise Primavera, a tale girls will love of the would endure without us? dependable everyday magic of family and Welcome Hall Mission Peeling the Onion by Gunther Grass, an autobi - friendship 606 De Courcelle Street, Montreal QC H4C 3L5 ography by this Nobel prizewinner and Ger - (514) 523-5288 man politician Reference Or visit our secured website www.welcomehallmission.com Elizabeth II – la dernière reine by Marc Roch, the Canadian Older Car/Truck Red Book for the first biography of the queen in French 1992-1999 models. WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – August 1, 2007 – 13

For story, see paper archive. 14 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – August 1, 2007

church is the rain location. For more in - Retail Watch: formation, please call 819.887.6093. The Westmount Townshipper Do you believe in lake monsters? Then The Victoria Village check out the Legend of Memphre , an ex - hibit of artwork inspired by Lake Mem - Pom’Cannelle moves back Something to please every taste through August 5 in Coaticook. A family phremagog’s legendary creature. Running Pom’Canelle is home sweet home event, it features animal exhibits and judg - until August 30, the show also includes ar - (4860 Sherbrooke St. W., 514.483.1787). With dozens of festivals, five-star lodg - ing, tractor pulls, samplings of dairy and tifacts found in the lake as well as docu - The high-end children’s clothing bou - ing, 80 tourist attractions – from the Gran - regional products, farm visits, concerts, ments and photographs relating to the tique moved back to its old location after by Zoo to Bleu Lavande, Canada’s largest rides, crafts and a parade. For more infor - lake’s history. For more information, a short stay on Victoria Ave. during ex - lavender producer – 500 kilometers of mation, please call 819.849.6010. please call 819.868.1881. tensive renovations. The store has un - roads out of a cyclist’s dream, four na - Come and meet artists at work in And last but not least: Brome Fair from dergone a complete facelift and even has tional parks and more, is it any wonder the downtown Granby during the Painters’ August 31 to September 3. The fair is an a wheelchair access button so that doors Eastern Townships has been a beloved Symposium , through August 5. For more annual fall agricultural fair and exhibition open auto matically. Translation for par - summer destination for generations of information, please call 1.866.472.6292 that takes place in the tiny village of ents: stroller access. Westmounters? or 450.375.8338. Brome. It is the third largest agricultural “We have more than 150 festivals in the North Hatley hosts Band Concerts at fair in Quebec. Summer punch Townships, mostly during the summer. Dreamland Park on Sundays August 5 and Enjoy a glass of summer punch on There is one to please every taste,” said August 12 at 2 pm. For more information, Thursday, August 2 from 7:30 pm to Danie Béliveau of the Eastern Townships please call 819.842.1091. Underdog 9:30 pm at Studio Trink and M2 (344A and 346A Victoria Ave., 514.223.7688 Tourism Association. Le P’tit Bonheur de Saint-Camille runs Underdog is a small and 514. 510.9778). The two boutiques Regional and provincial competitions, August 6 to 10 and features a painting organization headed will be open and offering cocktails as horse pulls, concerts, exhibitors and chil - workshop with professional artist Sey - by former West - well as 20 percent off merchandise. dren’s games take place during the Wee - mour Segal. At 162 Miquelon St. in St. mount er Fern Bres - don Dalton Horse Show and Professional Camille. For more information, please call law that aims to find special owners for Hunting for vintage Rodeo , August 3 to 5 and 9 to 12. For more 819.828.2664. dogs with special needs. These are Hunting for groovy vintage clothing information, please call 1.866.259.2786 or What better place to catch a Perseid me - often older, handicapped or simply and collectibles? Veteran vintage shop 819.877.3102. teor shower than ASTROLab? From Au - uglier dogs that can’t compete with owner Lynn Majdell, who has owned The Compton will offer a taste of local chefs’ gust 9 to 13 there will be shuttle service to purebreds or puppies. As a result, they offerings during its Weekend with a Coun - the summit, observation workshops, lec - often go unnoticed at local shelters. try Flavour . This unique gastronomic ex - tures and thematic concerts. At Notre Shiloh is one such perience takes place 11 am to 7 pm, Satur - Dame des Bois. For more information, dog: an eight-year- day, August 4 and 10 am to 4 pm, Sunday, please call 1.800.665.6527 or 819. 888. old cocker spaniel August 5 at the Louis St. Laurent National 2941. who narrowly a - Historic Site of Canada. For more infor - Indoor and outdoor concerts, many of voided death row at mation, please call 819.835.5448. them free, will be performed as part of the the pound and is Swimmers will go the length of Lake Orford Festival through August 12. Din - now in desperate Memphremagog (among other less ambi - ner/ show packages are available. For a full need of a good tious events) during the 29th edition of listing, please see www.arts-orford.org or home. Because he Hunt in TMR for 15 years, is opening her Memphremagog International Swim call 1.800.567.6155 or 819.843.3981. is older, Shiloh is second boutique on August 10 (316 Vic - Com petition , which ends on August 5. The Arnak Shriners Country & West - calmer than many toria Ave., 514.461.0388). From Christian This internationally renowned swimming Shiloh ern Rodeo Festival runs August 10 to 12 in young dogs and has Dior suede fringed ponchos to Yves Saint event includes many professional and am - Brome. It features a rodeo, country music already been through the headache of Laurent men’s ties and croquet sets, The ateur sporting activities open to the pub - bands and other family activities, includ - toilet training. He is an absolute love - Hunt is a place to find antiques, estate lic, including animation, performances, ing tent and RV camping at the Brome bug and will make a wonderful pet for jewelry and vintage clothing, accessories fireworks, a children’s village and ex - fairgrounds. For more information, please someone who can see beyond his gray - and collectibles. “Everything here is one hibitors. For more information, please see call 1.866.617.6336. ing face and bad teeth. To find out more of a kind,” says Lynn, “the boutique will www.tilm.net or call 1.800.267.2744 or Musical mornings take place 11:15 to about adopting Shiloh write to sophies - be a groovy New York Soho kind of vin - 819.847.3007. 12:15 Sunday through August 26 at an old dogadoption@ hotmail. com. tage store.” Got milk? The Milk Fair takes place marble quarry in Dudswell. A heritage

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Only $349,000 missing is you. $139,000 Royal LePage Action Broker. SHARYL THOMPSON Visit these and other great 450 266-6888 www.sharyl.com listings at my website. In appreciation of your patronage, I am pleased to donate a portion of my commission to your favourite charity. Diamond Award (top 3% of Quebec Royal Lepage agents) WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – August 1, 2007 – 15 The Westmount Parent Westmounter exhibits his Swimming, dancing and gardening Normand Hudon collection Annika Melanson Westmounter Denis Lépine first en - on politics and criticized Union Nationale My daughter Amel and I are enjoying every moment of sunshine at the countered the art of Normand Hudon in politicians in a way that was ahead of his Westmount pool this summer. I recently discovered that private swim - 1986 and made his initial purchase of the time. In addition, he worked quickly and ming lessons are offered by the Westmount pool lifeguards, who are artist’s work the following year. That often used just one line when composing certified by the Canadian Red Cross as instructors and are qualified to started the ball rolling: Lépine now has a new work.” administer first aid and CPR. A half-hour lesson is $15 to $20. For the over 100 books containing Hudon’s work Lépine’s works are on exhibition at the lucky few who have their own swimming pool, the instructors are avail - and nearly 100 original pieces by him, in - Maison de la culture Mercier until August able to teach at your home. You can speak to the lifeguards or call cluding lithographs, paintings, cartoons, 26. They will also form part of a larger ret - 514.989.5200 and ask to be connected with the pool desk. record covers and card games. rospective being done in Sherbrooke at the “I purchased Portrait de famille in 1987. Musée des Beaux-Arts de Sherbrooke New adult swim rules Several months later, it appeared in an art from October 20 to mid-February 2008. Speaking of the pool, apart from the new “no mandatory bathing caps” ruling, there book with the description, ‘Col - is another change this year: no children allowed at all in the pool during adult swim. For lection of Denis Lépine.’ It felt as far as I can remember, children under the age of six were permitted in the shallow funny to already have a collec - end, accompanied by an adult. tion,” said Lépine. Marc-André Delorme, the pool manager, and upper management have decided to Normand Hudon was a versa - disallow kids in the pool during adult swim because of “past complaints from adults” tile artist best known for his cari - and “parents lying about their children’s age.” catures and cartoons in La Presse, Le Petit Journal and Le Devoir . He Funky Feet was born in Montreal in 1929 and Funky Feet dance classes encourage children of all ages to experience the joy of dance died in 1997. by exploring space, rhythm, moods and music through fun activities and games. Classes Hudon’s work struck Lépine will be offered at Westmount Preschool (4350 St. Catherine St. W. 514.934.5636) start - like a thunderbolt: “The subjects ing mid-September for kids ages two to five. Each session lasts 30 minutes and all types interested me right away. Hudon of music will be introduced from disco and salsa to jazz and hip-hop. Funky Feet is also was a visionary. He commented available for special events and private parties. For more information about the fall ses - sion, contact Jennifer Jones at the above-mentioned telephone number or visit www.funkyfeet.ca or www.mummieslist.com. Blooming book of motherhood Pregnancy and motherhood are both very special experiences. Bloom Maternity (4937 Sherbrooke St. W., 514.481.5151, www.bloommaternity.ca) is asking mums-to-be, mummies and grandmothers to share their experiences, stories, anecdotes and favourite quotes or sayings about motherhood. These valuable keepsakes will be compiled in a book, Blooming: Stories for Delivery , which will be published and sold to mums “as a fun distraction while waiting to push.” All proceeds will be donated to the Montreal Chil - dren’s Hospital. E-mail your quotes or stories to [email protected] or drop by the store and make an entry in the “store collection book”. The deadline is March 2008. Retail therapy Three portraits by Normand Hudon of his friend, Bloom Maternity has always offered a jeans conversion service, where pregnant Père Ambroise Lafortune, a Quebec priest who mummies bring their favourite designer jeans to Bloom and have them converted into travelled extensively in Africa doing missionary maternity jeans…then converted back to their svelte shape after delivery. Bloom is now work. carrying Mavi jeans, which are more affordable than other high-end jeans ($140) and stretchier than other name brands. Other new maternity items include the Delicious for children ages 5 to 12 accompanied by their parents. Junior landscape architects will line of maternity t-shirts, all priced under learn all about green roofs, roof gardens and their benefits. $45 and Raz Baby pacifiers, such as the My daughter and I attended the workshop a few weeks ago. We were asked to bring “Keep It Clean” model, which when an empty two-litre milk or juice container (great for recycling), which served as the “pot” Babysec ure dropped on the floor, has wings that fold in which we planted our garden. From poking drainage holes into the bottom of our con - “Keeping your babies secure since 1987” inwards protecting the nipple. This in - tainers to layering rocks and soil separated by a textile membrane (a j-cloth), each step ɁOn-site consulting helping busy genious item is only $6. was explained in a thorough way easily understood by the children. Of course, we took parents protect their children For those of you who like a good tidbit our creation home with us where it is living happily on our balcony. The Green Roof ɁWidest choice of baby gates of gossip, Brad Pitt was in Bloom recently workshops are offered every Sunday in August as well as September 9 and 16 at 10:15 in the city and purchased a Belli Cream gift set, am and at 2 pm. The duration is two hours and reservations are necessary. The cost is which included a body exfoliator, belly oil, $6 for adults, $4 for children. If it rains, an indoor activity will be offered. ɁSafety products and body lotion and body wash for $85. installation services Follow-up ɁRed Cross certified A little beyond Westmount: As a follow-up to last month’s column, it has come to my attention that LMNOP First Aid training Little green thumbs (4919A Sherbrooke St. W., 514.486.4572) carries flotation bathing suits similar to the courses The Canadian Centre for Architecture ones I mentioned. They are about $50 and come in an assortment of colours. The bou - 51 4 485-2323 (1920 Baile St., 514.939.7026, www. cca. tique also has NoZone bathing suits, which are UV resistant, come in sizes 0 to 14 and www. babysecure.ca qc.ca) is offering roof garden workshops cost $54 and up. 16 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – August 1, 2007

A guide to Montreal’s parenting resources for every Montreal parent. In either language! The guide for Montreal cyclists .

As of issue #5, we’re doing great, but we could still use your help! If you like what we’re doing, please: Tell our existing advertisers. Even if you’re not using their services, let them know that you saw their advertisement and that you read the Westmount Independent . Remember that the City of Westmount is an advertiser. Tell other potential advertisers. Our response from readers has been overwhelmingly positive, but real estate agents and retailers have many things on their minds. If you know any of them personally or professionally, please tell them about the Westmount Independent . If you don’t like what we’re doing, please tell us – and we’ll try to fix it. Many thanks to everyone for their encouragement and contributions. David Price, Editor Looking for stuff to do with the kids? 514.935.4537 – [email protected] Look no further! In either language.