WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT September 23-24, 2008 We are Westmount Vol. 2 No. 9c School Open House Issue Citizens press for action on rail line See, p.9 to p. 11 By Laureen Sweeney Inside Westmount en-visioned With uncertainty looming over the location of a rail line for the proposed airport shuttle to Dor- val, citizens pressed for increased action to reduce noise and pollution from the existing commuter track during a recent meeting with top CP and AMT officials. “We all agreed that we need increased public transit, but that we can’t take away quality of life,” Mayor Karin Marks said. “Technology has to change regardless of what route is chosen for the shuttle. That’s the city’s po- sition. They must provide seamless rails and lighter equipment on the commuter line so that pollution becomes less of an issue.” The fact-finding meeting took place Tuesday, September 9, at Centre Greene. It provided an op- Profile Gabrielle Pilot p. 18 portunity for CP official Michel Spinnard and AMT president Joel Gauthier to hear firsthand the Don Wedge on sustainable development p. 5 feelings of the community, and for residents to un- What’s in Store by C. Price p. 15 derstand the mixed jurisdictional responsibilities 9 Lives and Underdog p. 16 These result from CP owning the tracks and Comin’ Up p. 17 equipment, and leasing them to AMT to operate a commuter service as well as pro- Joshua Wolfe, the city’s sustainable development coordinator, at the September 16 sustain- High Holiday recipe p. 12 ability visioning session. For news see p. 8; for analysis, see Don Wedge p. 5. Photo: Isaac Olson viding them with some funds. continued on p. 3 Last council meeting for retiring Bruce St. Louis CTR BKR Toasts an ‘extraordinary’ community Over 33 years of By Laureen Sweeney tember 29. experience in real Planning to address the council meet- Westmount’s retiring director general, ing at its conclusion, which occurred after estate to help you Bruce St. Louis, began the countdown to the Independent’s press time, St. Louis, 55, his 33-year-career at the city council meet- recollected his impressions of running the sell your house. ing Monday (September 22). It was to in- city during an earlier interview. VIVIAN & BRIAN GRANT clude a special send-off for the man who “Isn’t this an extraordinary commu- 592-4636 • 249-1500 has held the city’s top post for 15 years. nity!” he said. “You never quite know what DANIELLE BOULAY He will, however, stay on another three will happen here when you come to work Affiliated Real Estate Agent “Working hard to exceed weeks or more to brief his successor on in the morning. 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Won’t last! 457 Elm rented for 36 months Asking $5,300 month – MLS #1455736 Stunning NY style townhouse within walking distance to all! 4+1 bedrooms, 3+1 baths, 10 ft ceilings, terrace, 2 car parking. WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – September 23-24, 2008 – 3 Lower Canadian tree-gardening Legal opinion received, permit status now uncertain At press time Monday, it was learned “legal” in the French context of the by-law. that a legal opinion from the city’s law Supported only by Councillor Kathleen firm has confirmed a councillor’s con- Duncan, his view was rejected in a 5-2 tention that the French version of the zon- vote. While the permit was approved, Mar- ing by-law takes precedent over the tin asked the city clerk to obtain a legal varying English one. opinion. The opinion comes while the court challenge to a city permit for 27 Bellevue Judge visits Westmount remains under deliberation in Quebec Su- The impact of the legal opinion is not perior Court. In a widely publicized court immediately clear, but the court case itself case, the owner of 20 Sunnyside is asking has spilled into the streets of Westmount. the court to annul a city permit allowing After asking for wood framing to be the addition (see Westmount Independent mounted on 27 Bellevue to simulate an- Sept. 16). other storey with dormer windows, Supe- Councillor Patrick Martin had urged rior Court Justice Robert Mongeon took a his colleagues to vote against an amend- stroll around the neighbourhood Septem- ment to the permit at a special council ber 18 to see for himself what impact it meeting September 9. He stated it was not might have. Three shot with BBs at WHS LCC students and Westmounters Paul Virally, Emmanuel Mavkidakis and fellow grade 3 student in the new LCC Tree Garden that was planted during the week of September 15. Students at LCC started A Westmount High student shot three NEW PRICE this project in spring 2008 with a professional landscape design consultant and have since designed the of his fellow students on Sept. 18 with garden and planted over 2,000 plants made up of 50 species native to Quebec. The garden is situated what was described as a BB gun. Follow- Redfern Ave. on the west side of the Royal Ave. campus and replaces two Norwegian Maples. ing the incident, one student was sent to hospital and the perpetrator was arrested. When the Independent spoke to EMSB Residents want relief in short term spokeperson Mike Cohen on Sept. 19, the gun had not been recovered and the 14- continued from p. 1 the tracks in attendance along with their year-old (grade 9) had been suspended for Updating of equipment would require councillors – John de Castell, Cynthia Lul- the maximum five-day period. Further additional infrastructure money, an issue ham and George Bowser. punishment was being considered. Marks said she has already raised with Lib- “We need to form a united front with The initial incident happened in the eral electoral candidate Marc Garneau and NDG and Montreal West, which are also morning during art class. The school was the NDP’s Anne Lagacé Dowson. affected,” Marks said. “Let’s do this to- unable to take any action at that time be- Garden level – Contemporary – With a decision on the shuttle route tar- gether.” cause the first victim denied being hit, de- Spacious 4 + 1 bedrooms, C/A, 2+ geted for February, she said, along with an spite being questioned for one hour. In the car garage, beautiful Zen garden. upcoming study on the lowering of the afternoon, the other two victims were shot. Turcot interchange, the interwoven proj- PREVENT CHILD ABUSE Cohen described the shooter’s goal as $1,279,000 ects are expected to have an impact on the You can help by donating USED BOOKS causing a “prank or joke” and was sad- existing commuter route. dened that the event had happened. NICOLE LOTH “Whatever the decisions, we need solu- to KIDZSAFE FOUNDATION, to fund “Westmount High’s image has im- 514-791-5800 tions in the short term,” said Peter our educational programmes for kids. Affiliated real estate agent proved and it has improved academically. Groupe Sutton Centre-Ouest Howlett of Prospect St. He was one of the Call for pick-up 514.702.4930 It is close to maximum enrollment. This 30 residents from the three districts along was an isolated incident.” We consistently deliver quality in the assets we manage while providing our clients with the highest levels of personal service. Place du Canada, Suite 2000, 1010 de la Gauchetiere West, Montreal, QC H3B 4J1 – www.3macs.com John H. Bridgman Bob McKenzie, CA, CFA Maria Spanakis,CIM Portfolio Manager Portfolio Manager Associate Portfolio Manager 514-394-2772 514-394-3038 514-394-2773 Proudly celebrating 150 years of client trust and service (1858-2008) 4 – WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – September 23-24, 2008 Lamenting the en- St.Louis liked to ‘get hands dirty’ suing loss of the fire department, how- continued from p. 1 Making decisions work ever, St. Louis be- lieves that with time And in a city of such quality services “That’s where the professionalism of and high citizen expectations, he added, “and patience”, some this organization comes into play. We have of the locally based “you really have to put to use every skill to accept the decision and, at the end of you have ever learned.” fire services related the day, make it work in the best way pos- to prevention, in- Into city kitchens sible.” But he’s used to taking it in his spections and first stride, he added: “I don’t get my way at Having risen quickly through the ranks responder that West- home all the time, but I get to have my mount was accus- of almost every area of the city manage- say.” ment, St. Louis characterized his tenure in tomed to will He credits his wife, Eileen, and son, eventually return.