Help Generations help kids generationsfoundation.com O 514-933-8585 OCTOBER2008 theseniortimes.com VOL.XXIIIN 1 INSIDE Dancing duo makes ‘em smile p. 7 50-year case of election Cotler frustrated by fever inaction on Darfur p. 11 p. 3 She needs you! p. 13 Editorial: Strong candidates make voting decisions tough With storm clouds signaling economic meltdown for the NDP, Conservatives and Green Party who son is waging a high-profile campaign. Former as- hovering over the United States,the debates in the are attracting attention and would make excellent tronaut Marc Garneau is the Liberal star candidate Canadian general election seemed liked a passing MPs. Green Party leader Elizabeth May urges there – certainly a man of honour and achievement, sunshower.Addtothatthedramaof Obamaversus Canadians to vote with their hearts, but some are who has proved his dedication to the common good. McCain,and his risky choice of Sarah Palin as run- calling for strategic voting, to support whomever The NDP’s Peter Deslauriers, former head of the ning mate,and you have all the makings of drama, is strongest to prevent a Tory majority. Dawson College teachers’ union, is also an attrac- even if at times it resembled a daytime soap opera. Some may feel that Liberal leader Stéphane Dion, tive candidate for NDG–Lachine, up against Mar- But we have a real battle going on right here, an honest, hardworking, principled and brilliant lene Jennings, who has become a well-known with all the opinion surveys pointing to a renewed man, has been pilloried for not being as good with advocate of minority rights. It goes without saying Conservative victory under Stephen Harper. Still, soundbites as others. But the past week has shown that we fully support Stéphane Dion in St. Laurent, his vision of the role of government has yet to win him to in fact have an exemplary capacity to artic- and human rights advocate and former Justice him a seat in Montreal or Toronto. ulate his ideas in both languages. Minister Irwin Cotler in Mount Royal. The ridings where The Senior Times is distributed The NDP hopes to repeat their byelection win in We know many of our readers will have difficulty are solidly Liberal and many of our readers reflect Outremont and to pick up Westmount–Ville-Marie choosing this time due to the unusually high this reality. But some fine candidates are running as well, where CBC broadcaster Anne Lagacé Dow- calibre of candidates running across the island. ELECTION DAY October 14, 2008 from 9:30 am to 9:30 pm For those who cannot vote on October 14, 2008, you may vote in Advance Polls on October 3, 4 or 6 from 12 PM to 8 PM - consult your Voter Information Card for more information. You may also vote by Special Ballot any day until October 7 at 6 PM at your local Elections Canada returning office. You must bring valid photo identification and proof of your address. We can help by providing information or transportation. Feel free to call us. Hon. Stéphane Dion Hon. Irwin Cotler Hon. Marlene Jennings Liberal Candidate for Liberal Candidate for Liberal Candidate for Saint-Laurent–Cartierville(514) 335-5421 (514)Mount 482-5580 Royal (514)NDG–Lachine 667-7095 Dion Cotler Jennings Liberal, Stéphane X Liberal, Irwin X Liberal , Marlene X Francis Scarpaleggia Bernard Patry Marc Garneau Liberal Candidate for Liberal Candidate for Liberal Candidate for Bernard and Scarpaleggia Francis Garneau, Marc Jennings, Marlene Cotler, Irwin agents official Dion, the by of Stéphane Authorized Patry (514)Lac Saint-Louis 695-4556 Pierrefonds–Dollard(514) 626-1747 Westmount–Ville-Marie(514) 931-6272 Scarpaleggia Patry Garneau Liberal , Francis X Liberal, Bernard X Liberal , Marc X 2 October 2008 THE SENIOR TIMES Campanelli’s campaign cachet contagious race, noting climate change in particular as an im- Adam Desaulniers petus providing new blood.“I see young people get- ting more involved… it’s very busy.” As she shows Carmela Campanelli got her first taste of grass- new volunteers the ropes, her depth of experience roots politics in 1957, volunteering for Louis puts issues in a more philosophical context.“We’ve Saint-Laurent’s Liberals in their battle against come a long way.The young people,you have to let John Diefenbaker. them know we had to fight for these things we take Now putting her formidable people skills to work for granted now.” for NDG–Lachine MP Marlene Jennings’ 2008 In one of the reddest ridings in the country,many campaign, she has the capacity to ruin a cynic’s of Campanelli’s conversations with voters would skepticism in minutes, and enough perspective to make volunteers elsewhere green with envy. Her soundly trounce the notion that politics can’t candidate is exceptionally popular. “There’s some- change things in the long run. Since before there thing special about NDG! We’ve been very lucky. existed a Charter of Rights, Medicare, EI, or official We’ve had amazing MPs.” She warmly relates hav- bilingualism, she’s soldiered through fair weather ing worked alongside Warren Allmand during his and foul on behalf of three successive generations tenure as Justice Minister, when he toiled against of Parliamentarians. stiff opposition to abolish the death penalty, an Campanelli relocated to Montreal from Italy after issue predating the political memories of most the Second World War, leaving behind a town where Canadians. “I really admired Warren,” she recalls. ordinary people had little say in the running of their “He was so dedicated. A real man of integrity.” affairs. Being able to get involved in the democratic Her impression of Marlene Jennings has so far process made Canada seem full of possibilities by matched his example in every way and more.“Mar- comparison.“When I talk to people I tell them how lene took over and she’s doing a great job for NDG,” lucky we are in this country,” she says. “Here you she says.“She’s amazing.” count.” Those who disdain the political scene have Jennings is indeed an easy sell in the riding, with little right to grumble in her opinion. “Apathy – it’s a high profile in the previous Liberal administra- no good. Don’t just sit home and criticize,”she says. tion as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Min- “Don’t be a complainer. Be a doer.”This year marks ister and the Solicitor General, and notable efforts her seventeenth straight time leading by example – in opposition working for employment equity “I’ve never, ever missed an election.” among women, first nations, and minorities. Her Working the phones on a busy afternoon at cam- appreciation for Campanelli’s expertise and back- paign headquarters, she finds her canvassing beat ground in the community is known by everyone to have changed little over the years, encountering working on the campaign:“Carmela’s been there for familiar voices and familiar themes again and again. us every time from start to finish, so everybody “You talk to a lot of the same people and you get to knows her... I don’t know where she gets the energy, know them,”she says.“They feel like someone’s lis- she tires me out!” tening to them. Sometimes they have a lot to say.”In Campanelli urges voters to do whatever they can spite of public hand-wringing over declining par- to get to the polls October 14.“You have to get out ticipation and mounting disillusionment, she sees and participate,” she says. “We pick people up any neither more nor less cynicism towards politics time they want,door to door,they just need to give than when she started. “This is something that’s us a call and let us know.” been said for centuries,” she notes affably. “Times Polling station information is available from Elec- change. Be patient. When the time comes, the tions Canada at 800-463-6868 or www.elections.ca. young people do exactly what they have to do.” “This is an exciting time,” she says of the current Photos by Robert Galbraith September 2008 3 THE SENIOR TIMES Current champions keep title in shuffleboard curling match I In West End Montreal I Luxury Cars at Regular Rates on Request I Special Attention to the Elderly I 100% guaranteed Airport Reservations I Pick-Up & Delivery [email protected] Team Place Kensington Marilynn Vanderstaay The competition was fierce but friendly in the St. Patrick Square quarter-final of the annual Shuffleboard Curling 6767 Côte St. Luc Road Tournament in Westmount last month. Home team members from Place Kensington in West- mount battled to win back the trophy from Manoir Westmount, the visiting champions. In spite of a valiant effort and a supportive cheering section, at the end of the hour-long tournament Manoir Westmount went home again with the Discover our unique apartments designed coveted Shuffleboard Curling Cup. for 55+ & autonomous. Well located near The players, who are in their 80s and 90s, played in Mary Sancton (in black and white) playing banks, shopping & bus lines. style, dressed in the Place Kensington colours of for Team Manoir Westmount 3 1/2 green and white and Manoir Westmount uni- forms of black and white. Team members strate- assist them to and from the playing board but they Large gardens, indoor pool, saunas, gized their moves in the hybrid indoor game, can do their own planning and follow-through of library, gym & billiard room, & mini putting green. which evolved from floor curling and outdoor the moves, and it is great fun for all the players.” 514-481-9609 shuffleboard. Simona Buth, Friedman’s counterpart at the With the NHL enthusiasm of Danny Gallivant, Manoir, agreed.