August 15, 2017 Aug
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WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT Weekly. Vol. No. b We are Westmount August , Plans call for pool, rink From one DG to another Sports complex planned for vacant Hillside Armoury B L S which moved out four years ago. “We want to try to preserve the building A proposal to convert the former Hill- as an architectural site with a project that side Armoury into a sports club includes will serve the community well,” an indoor pool and ice rink, the Indepen- Beauchamp explained. dent learned last week. He said he hopes to deposit plans with The redevelopment project was outlined the city in the next couple of weeks. by real estate developer Karl Beauchamp, a partner in a group called Hillside Limited Membership component Partnership, which purchased the prop- He said these include a four-lane erty recently at Hillside Lane and Hillside “Olympic pool” and an artificial ice rink of Ave. The armoury had been home for 50 feet by 100 feet suitable for 3-on-3 youth some 67 years to the 34 Combat Engineer hockey. The facility could also include a Photo: Laureen Sweeney Regiment (formerly the 3 Field Engineers), training gym “that schools could use.” The building, which has a total floor Retiring city director general Mike Deegan, right, hands over his desk plate to his successor, Benoit space of 54,000 square Hurtubise, as city council appoints Hurtubise at the city council meeting August 7. See p. 2, 3 and 6. Letters p. 4 feet, he said, would have continued on p. 14 Social Notes by V. Redgrave p. 13 City considers dog by-law revisions. Retail Watch p. 10 See p. 7. November , municipal election béatrice baudinet Lulham files for District 7 B L S through” on many projects she began as commissioner of Sustainability and Parks. B.514.934.1818 Councillor Cynthia Lulham has an- These include specifically refurbishing C.514.912.1482 nounced that she filed nomination papers Westmount Park – a project starting this [email protected] with the city clerk August 10 to run for re- fall – the naturalization of Summit Woods election in District 7. and work to restore the conservatory and www.baudinet.ca Lulham sees her possible 7th term of rebuild the greenhouses. continuous council service since 1995 as “My goals for the next mandate,” she Diamond Award Winner Top 10 an asset and an opportunity to share her said, “also include the renewal of infras- Top 1% team for in Canada Royal Lepage Quebec. “corporate memory” with a new council tructure, encouragement of public con- 2009–2016 and management team at city hall. sultation and the revital- Lulham said she wants to “follow ization of the commercial continued on p. 11 REAL ESTATE AGENCY INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED MONTREAL Answers to all your school-choice questions Sunday, Sepptemmber 10, 2017 Meet with top-ranked French & English schools, speak Centre Mont-Royal, Montreal with education consultannts and admission directors, and 12pm to 4pm get ins ght into the ‘soul’ of each school. www.ourkids net/expo RSVP AT OURKIDS.NET/EXXPO TO ATTEND 2 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – August 15, 2017 Aug. meeting one of record By Laureen Sweeney the kids but the parents, too.” She said Deegan had built an “inspiring” What is traditionally a quiet, uneventful management team in his three years head - city council meeting during the dog days of ing the administration, a sentiment echoed August turned into one of importance re - by other council members in turn. garding the management of the city Au - Councillor Philip Cutler, the youngest gust 7. councillor and a longtime hockey player, The meeting opened with a series of recalled how he and other teenagers tributes to retiring city director general coached by Deegan had viewed him as a Mike Deegan, 54, after 30 years with the “godly” figure. “I had the opportunity to city. This was followed by the appointment grow up with him as a role model… From of assistant director general Benoit Hur - my generation, thanks a lot for everything.” tubise, 51, as his successor. (See story, p. 6.) And that includes his three years inter - Also came the surprise news of the re - facing with the contractors of the West - tirement of Lucille Angers, the drafting mount recreation centre, noted Councillor and analysis clerk for Legal Services, who Patrick Martin. He thanked Deegan for prepares council meetings and has been a not only building a large Sports and Recre - familiar figure during her 17 years with ation department but for “a great facility.” the city. (See photo, p. 10.) “His departure is a great loss to this “In case you’re wondering why there are community,” explained former mayor so many of the city’s leadership staff here,” Karin Marks in a letter read out by Coun - Mayor Christina Smith said, “It’s with a cillor Victor Drury. Both she and former very heavy heart that we’re saying goodbye mayor Peter Trent were reported to be out to Mike Deegan.” of town and so unable to attend Deegan’s After spending most of his career with last meeting. Sports and Recreation and as its director, “He didn’t seek to leave a legacy,” said Smith emphasized his relationships with Theodora Samiotis. “But he did.” (See sep - so many residents. “He walks on the street, arate story, p. 3.) talks to parents and is committed to the See photo, p. 1. city,” she said. “He has not only coached I am a native of Montreal who has been living in the United States for many years. I initially met Bunny and Susan in November 2016, when I sought assistance regarding the sale of our family home in Montreal. From the very onset, they impressed me with a unique blend of warmth, focus and professional insight, which proved invaluable in selecting them as my real estate agents. During the process of selling the house, their analysis, thoughts and recommendations were consistently accurate, timely and unfailingly correct. Given the long-distance nature of our business relationship, their interpersonal and managerial skills relieved me of a great burden. “ Doubtless, it is these rare individuals who can master the intricacies of direct consumer relations along with the operational skills necessary to succeed. During the three decades I have been in the U.S., I have met a great number of people at all levels of responsibility, experience and rank. You can ‘train’ a person to do many things. However, character and persona are unteachable, non-transferable and immutable. Bunny Berke and Susan Lloyd own those traits. I recommend Bunny and Susan to you wholeheartedly and without reservation. David Gomolin, MD Bunny Berke Susan Lloyd Real Estate Broker Real Estate Broker [email protected] [email protected] ” 514.347.1928 438.882.8088 1303 GREENE AVENUE, SUITE 500, WESTMOUNT QC H3Z 2A7 WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – August 15, 2017 – 3 Highlights importance of team ‘play’ Deegan discusses high-profile years with city By Laureen Sweeney ford, Maine. agement team he In fact, he said, retiring doesn’t mean built up in the three It’s likely no surprise to many that Mike he’s leaving Westmount. He hopes to play last years as director Deegan is one of the city’s best-known and more hockey here, to volunteer at Family general. This in - highly regarded employees. It’s a result of Day and Winter Carnival and just “pop cluded filling a num - his career-long efforts to build relation - in.” ber of vacant depart - ships and teams, on and off the hockey “Westmount has given me more than I ment-head positions, rink. could give it,” he explained. Despite the including Finance, “I’ve tried to value people,” he said in an clichés, he said: “It’s been a privilege and Legal, Urban Plan - interview August 8 before leaving on re - an honour for me to work here.” ning and Public tirement August 11. “I hope that the hall - Works. All 11 posi - mark of my career will be building rela - Lasting memories tions are now filled, tionships with mayors, council members, Some of his more memorable experi - “which bodes well for colleagues and residents.” ences include his almost three-year stint as the future,” he said. He said lessons learned as a young the city’s on-site coordinator for building The team is getting hockey player had transferred into his pro - the Westmount recreation centre (WRC). stronger and increas - fessional life including “the value of work - This meant putting on boots and hard ing in motivation ing and growing together.” His late father hat and dealing on the ground with con - with the appointment used to tell him the success of the team struction contractors in a milieu he had of assistant directors, was more important than that of an indi - never experienced. To his surprise, his he added. vidual player. ability to build relationships played a sig - The “temporary” And in that regard, it’s perhaps fitting nificant role in that environment too, position of assistant that on what was to be his last day on the which helped catapult him into the city’s director general is job, Deegan was to be heading off with top management position. now vacant with the former councillor Nicolas Matossian and As a result, the many awards won by the appointment of the Senior Westmount Hockey Team WRC form some of his memories. The city says thanks to ‘Mike’ with this plaque presented by Mayor Christina Smith, left, to Mike Deegan at the council meeting August 7 on his (SWAT) to play in a tournament in Bid d e - As w ell, De egan is proud of the man - continued on p.