The Toonie Challenge: a great initiative for students to support MUHC

Town of Mount Royal’s Michael Kounadis is one sharp fellow. The Selwyn House high school student made an immediate impression upon me as he stepped to the microphone as part of a well produced program organized by the McGill University Health Centre (MUCH).

Kounadis,  whose dad Dennis is one of the city’s sharpest lawyers,  was taking part in the public kick-off of The Toonie Challenge, an MUHC initiative involving local Montreal schools.  Students have been busy collecting toonies for the MUHC Foundation as part of the hospital’s Best Care for Life Campaign, which supports the building of the new Glen site and vital equipment purchases. The long-term fundraising goal is to raise 69,000 toonies ($138,000), enough to circle the entire Glen site (1,932 metres) if placed end-to-end.

Held at Glen Hall of the new MUCH Administrative Centre next to the Vendome Metro and a short walk from the  new super hospital which will be completed in  the fall of 2014, the ceremony fed on the enthusiasm of youngsters like Kounadis who spoke about how they organized their own  toonie challenges. “We did a bake sale during Valentine’s Day,” Kounados explained,  “and a joint school carnival with The Study.”

A total of $14,012 was raised – representing 7,006 toonies.  Besides Selwyn House, other QAIS (Quebec Association of Independent Schools) participating schools were  ECS, Lower Canada College, Sacred Heart, The Study, Trafalgar, Vanguard, Villa Maria and  Queen of Angels. Tim Peters from the PriorySchool was there with some student ambassadors and Irene Miller from the English Montreal School Board, each party observing for possible participation next year.

 

Students proudly display a large version of the cheque, representing the money raised in the Toonie Challenge. That is Michael Kounadis, second row, fifth from the right.

At ECS,  for instance, the students sold smoothies for $4 (two toonies) , organized toonie races (lining toonies up along the ground) and held a free dress day. The latter was a common activity at most schools.

Dr. Preetha Krishnamoorthy, an attending physician of the Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, addressed the  group. A truly dynamic speaker, she spoke with great enthusiasm about the new facility. She explained that when her patients turn 18 she must say good-bye and send them to another building.  “With the new campus my patients will go right next door,” she said.
 

Dr. Jonathan Meakins, Director of the Heritage Centre of the MUHC, praised the Toonie Challenge and noted that this initial donation represents 10 percent of the toonies necessary to surround the new site.

Following the presentation, students will be invited to visit a variety of health kiosks covering topics such as nutrition, the importance of volunteering, nursing, trauma prevention and more. 

After the speeches, students and guests circulated around the room to browse at different information kiosks dealing with  everything from archival items to nutrition.

Making Impact: A soccer game at Saputo Stadium is excellent entertainment

Via my job as communications and marketing specialist at the English Montreal School Board, I have been part of a terrific partnership we have enjoyed with the Montreal Impact soccer team for the past eight years now. During the off season, players visit schools and share with students the opportunity of playing an elite level of sport while maintaining the importance of a strong educational background. Then, in May or June, we have our annual Impact Night in which students, staff and their families buy tickets at a discounted price. We at the EMSB are recognized on the scoreboard and two students are awarded $500 scholarships.

In past years we have ran into poor weather conditions which affected the final turnout. Well this was definitely not the case on May 1, 2013, a date we chose many months ago not knowing the weather forecast or whether the Canadiens would be playing an important playoff game.  We selected a game pitting Montreal against Toronto FC. This was part of the Amway Canadian Championship, which involves the four top professional clubs in Canada, in the race to qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League. That is an international competition between professional clubs from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Last week Montreal lost to Toronto 2-0. The way this tournament works, the Impact would have had to score three more goals than their opponent to advance to the next round. The final score was 6-0 Montreal. It was an absolutely spectacular game to watch, with tremendous excitement in the crowd (thanks in great part to the boisterous fan club known as the Ultras); the weather could not have been more beautiful; the stadium is a work of art; and thanks to a Rihanna Concert, the first Canadiens playoff game was scheduled for the following evening.

A view from up top

I was a soccer fan dating back to the days when the Montreal Manic packed Olympic Stadium back in the 1980s. Over the years I warmed up to the Impact, which thanks to team president Joey Saputo's tenacity were accepted to Major League Soccer and not only had this magnificent open air stadium built - but last year it was expanded. Folks, it is worth coming to a game just to experience the stadium. The Saputos need to be saluted for not asking the taxpayers to contribute a dime.

Personally,  I do not expect the Canadiens to go past the first round this year.  Check the Impact schedule out online and consider going to a game.

There are just over 20,000 seats, about one-third of which are covered in the event of rain. There is plenty of paid parking, the Viau Metro station on site and restaurants galore in the area.

A photo from field level.

Saputo has assembled a great staff, many of whom I have had the pleasure to get to know over the years. I must credit my good friend Mario Bentrovato for initiating this entire  EMSB-Impact venture. At the EMSB office, my colleague Daniel Smajovits worked overtime with his Impact group sales contact Fern Da Silva in selling more than 2,600 tickets. Sporting Director Nick De Santis is an EMSB grad (John F. Kennedy High School) as is assistant coach Mauro Biello (St. Monica and Marymount).  Director of Ticket Sales and Services Brian Weightman (whose brother Mark is COO of the Alouettes), Executive Vice-President Richard Legendre, Communications Director Patrick Vallée and Communications Coordinator Eric Forest are consummate professionals,

Matt Jordan

Director of Soccer Operations Matt Jordan is one impressive individual whom I got to meet for the first time.  Jordan had a 13 year professional soccer career as a goalkeeper the last four with the Impact. He is a native of Denver, Colorado who graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and a minor in Sports Marketing. So it was a stroke of genius by Saputo to move him into the head office, where he oversees the day to day operations of the club, manages the salary and technical operation budget and serves as a liaison between the team and the league.

Jordan told me how he and his wife, along with their two young children, settled in St. Léonard. The kids now attend the EMSB's Honoré Mercier Elementary School and have picked up the French language nicely. His wife even spends time there as a volunteer librarian. 

Here is my video interview with Jordan,  in which he describes his job, his career and what it has been like settling in Montreal with his family.

West Island Montreal's Chloe Wilde wins prestigious MUCHMUSIC VJ Search

Chosen with the help of devoted fans and the MUCH VJ SEARCH mentors, Chloe Wilde from West Island Hudson,  has officially been crowned the winner of the FRUCTIS FRUIT SENSATION PRESENTS: MUCH VJ SEARCH, and receives a contract for one of the hottest jobs in Canadian entertainment. After a fierce, month-long competition full of grueling challenges, shocking eliminations, a two-week bus tour across Canada, surviving “Camp Much,” and a whole lot of action, the FRUCTIS FRUIT SENSATION PRESENTS: MUCH VJ SEARCH winner was announced live on the April 26 show and emotional episode of the MUCH VJ SEARCH. Chloe begins her new job on MuchMusic next month.

Chloe Wilde

At 24 years of age, show officials say Chloe  has exactly what it takes to be a MuchMusic VJ. Not just a pretty face, her well rounded knowledge on youth culture, coupled with her quirky and likeable delivery gives viewers a unique and authentic perspective on today’s fast-paced world of entertainment and music, that only Much can deliver.

“The MuchMusic VJ Search has been the most amazing experience, and I feel extremely lucky to be able to continue this great adventure as a VJ,”  she said. “Thanks to everyone at MuchMusic and FRUCTIS FRUIT SENSATION for the experience of a lifetime. This would not have been possible without the incredible support of all my fans. Wilde-Ones, I am sending much love to all of you!”

Côte Saint-Luc's Brandon Elbaz was also in the running and had cracked the Top 20.

Here is Chloe's audition video:

 

Chosen from countless audition tapes, Chloe withstood the most challenging MUCH VJ SEARCH to date. From making it through to the Top 40, to surviving the first-ever MUCH VJ SEARCH on-the-road eliminations, and bunking with the Top 10 for two weeks at Much HQ, (appropriately named “Camp Much”), she has demonstrated she has all the skills required to come out on top as the winner of the FRUCTIS FRUIT SENSATION PRESENTS: MUCH VJ SEARCH.

The winner of the FRUCTIS FRUIT SENSATION PRESENTS: MUCH VJ SEARCH lands the coveted gig of Much VJ. As a Much VJ, Chloe gets to meet die-hard fans and interview mega, and up-and-coming celebrities, all while working out of the renowned Much HQ at 299 Queen St. West in Toronto. You can follow her on Twitter @DailyChloe.

Chloe already had a following before this show thanks to her starring role on the AskMen Video Channel. Here is a cute bit she did for Valentine's Day:

 

The CJEnd: How will Jewish community cope with the closure of its newspaper?

Like most people in the Jewish community, I  was quite shocked to hear earlier this week that the Canadian Jewish News is closing its doors after 53 years of publication on June 21, 2013. Sadly, it is part of a growing trend which in Montreal alone has recently claimed The Hour and Mirror weeklies, The Sunday editions of The Montreal Gazette and La Presse and most recently Bram Eisenthal's excellent Local Herald (which will continue online). A few years ago it was the NDG Monitor which shut down. It still has a small web presence.

The Canadian Jewish News published a large Toronto edition each week and a smaller Montreal counterpart. It was only available by subscription. For those who donated a certain amount to the local Combined Jewish Appeal campaigns got it in the mail as a bonus. I have read the paper religiously for decades. The Montreal edition has three solid full-time writers about to begin circulating their resumes: Janice Arnold, David Lazarus and Elias Levy, the latter of whom was added to the roster about 20 years ago to contribute French stories.

I have fond memories of the CJN. While I personally never wrote for the paper, I worked especially closely with its editors and reporters during my 11 years as national director of communications for the Canadian Jewish Congress. Those were the days before email and I remember having to fax press releases and run to the local camera shop to have pictures developed and delivered to the Toronto head office by overnight courier. My fondest memory was the day the late Lou Seligson called and offered to do a column on me. Lou was legendary, noted for his reader friendly profiles accompanied by his signature caricatures.

There is no question the paper has a loyal following. This was obvious from the comments I received on my Twitter handle and Facebook when I posted the news of its demise. "What can we do?" on person asked.  "How are Jewish organizations going to get their word out?" asked a local publicist.

Well folks, there are options. The Suburban is not a "Jewish" newspaper. However, our main city edition with its door to door circulation and numerous dropoffs does reach a significant Jewish population. We have always published Jewish community news and attracted Jewish organizational advertising. That will no doubt continue.

The Jewish Tribune, published by B'nai Brith Canada, is actually the largest circulation weekly Jewish newspaper in Canada. It has paid subscribers across the country and a large number of dropoffs. In addition to my role as city columnist, blogger and features writer for The Suburban, I have served as The Tribune's Quebec bureau chief for 14 years. The paper already has a good presence in Montreal, thanks to an ace circulation manager in Bruce Segal who makes sure it can be picked up in blue boxes scattered around the city, at synagogues, condos and different stores frequented by the Jewish community. Publisher Frank Dimant, the executive vice-president of B'nai Brith Canada,  has already stated that the Tribune will fill the void.

“To ensure that the Jewish community, through its organizations, synagogues and fundraising groups, are able to keep their message in the forefront, the Jewish Tribune is immediately undertaking a review of its structure to accommodate increased editorial and advertising," Dimant stated. "In addition, while we have been examining a wider circulation in Montreal, we will now attempt to fast track this growth. We will also continue to increase the scope of our reporting and fill the vacuum that has been created and undertake to work together with the Federations to so the community is best served.”

The Tribune has an easy to navigate website, with quick access stories and a PDF version of each edition. That is much different from the CJN, which had an awkward online presence.

Montrealer Jews should not despair. Between The Suburban,  The Jewish Tribune and a handful of smaller Jewish magazines they will still be well served.  As for Jewish organizations, it would be nice for some of them to take a look at any personnel opportunities and put in calls to the likes of Arnold, Lazarus and Levy. They know this community better than anyone else and would each make fabulous publicists or programmers.

While the CJN has announced it closures, I just wonder whether this all might be a clever tactic to open the door for some white knight to come riding in to assume the ownership of the paper. Conrad Black is out of prison, living in Toronto with his Jewish wife Barbara Amiel and of course a former owner of The Jerusalem Post.  Could he be a candidate? Unlikely, but worthy of speculation.

Tampa Bay Lightning players like burgers, poutine and chocolate milk

It appears as if downtown Burger Bar Crescent  has become the "Home-For-Away Teams," for both  the NHL and the CFL. Spotted there yesterday were Tampa Bay Lightning  players #91-Steve Stamkos, #26-Martin St-Louis, #2-Eric Brewer, #16-Teddy Purcell, #42-Dana Tyrell and #75-Radko Gudas who walked in unannounced ordering burgers and poutines. 

 

Steven Stamkos

"They love poutine which is not available in their local markets," owner Morrie Baker says. "They stay away from liquor preferring sodas and chocolate milk which we run out to buy from the local depanneur as a favor since we don't normally sell it. 

A Coderre- Applebaum coalition for Montreal?

Denis Coderre

Federal Liberal Member of Parliament Denis Coderre is expected to announce his candidacy for mayor of Montreal within the next two weeks or so.

What will happen with interim Mayor Michael Applebaum? On the record he was quite clear from the start. This was a temporary post until the next election, when he would then seek re-election as head of the Côte des Neiges/N.D.G. borough.  However, as most will agree, Applebaum has done an impressive job. His French language skills are up to speed and quite acceptable to the French media. Most people I meet privately wish he`d seek the big job in November. Councillor Marvin Rotrand has  begun steps to launch a new party, but there is no leader being mentioned. is that spot being reserved for Applebaum?

Michael Applebaum

Sources tell me that if for some reason Coderre does not throw his hat in the ring, waiting instead for Justin Trudeau to become prime minister in two years, then Applebaum will run for mayor. The other story being floated is a Coderre-Applebaum coalition. In order to address some of the concerns cited during the Charbonneau Commission, Coderre would run as an independent with the backing of Applebaum and an impressive lineup of independent candidates. With Louise Harel and Richard Bergeron considered lightweight mayoral candidates, the charismatic Coderre and Applebaum would cruise to victory.

Amazing discovery leads to redefinition of this woman’s roots!

After finding a mysterious suitcase in her mother’s basement, Dr. Andrée Lotey discovered that her late father had been Jewish and was rescued by Aristides de Sousa Mendes.  This story was featured in the Montreal Gazette, and she is currently writing a true-life detective story about her discoveries.  She has worked as a journalist for Radio-Canada, and has written many articles.

 

Dr, Andrée Lotey

Dr. Lotey teaches French literature and language at the University of Montreal and Concordia University.

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Montreal, in association with the Jewish Public Library, is featuring Dr. Lotey as their speaker on Monday, April 22, 2013, at 7:30 pm. 

The title of her presentation will be

“The Survivors of the Green Suitcase".

This meeting will take place at the

Gelber Conference Centre, 5151 Cote Ste-Catherine/1 Carré Cummings.

Everyone is welcome to attend.