Annual Notable Awards set to take flight in Montreal

With over two million monthly Canadian visitors, Notable.ca  is the largest website for young professional adults (aka: YPs) in Canada. Launched in 2008, it curates a 360-degree approach to living the optimally balanced YP lifestyle. Notable.ca highlights young Canadians who are doing notable things, while also showcasing the places, products, and events YP’s need to know about to take their work-life and social-life to the next level.

Julian Brass

This year's Notable Awards will be held in Montreal,  Vancouver and Toronto, with our edition set to take place on Wednesday, November 26 at the Centre de Science. I have  met Notable founder and CEO Julian Brass and the man is a true mover and shaker.

"This story is a top-40-under-40-style crowd with plenty of cool, given the organization’s membership composed of the youngest of Canada's outstanding professionals," says  Katia Piccolino, publicist for Notable and the PR boss at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. "It's the Oscar’s for the young professional world."

Kimberly Marx

Here are the categories.

Advertising & Marketing Professional

The recipient of this award is among the very best in the business when it comes to creatively and strategically getting products on the minds of potential customers. One  of the nominees is Kimberly Marx, who has done a fantastic job since joining Interaction Asian Restaurants (P.F. Chang's Canada) last year.

Architecture and Real Estate

The recipient of this award develops or sells some of Canada’s most sought-after properties.

Arts & Culture

The recipient of this award uses their right side of the brain better than anyone in the industry, and can turn heads with their work everywhere people see it.

Best Bartender

The recipient of this award understands exactly how to guarantee you’ll be coming back for a second round – from what’s in the glass to exceptional service.

Best Blog

The recipient of this award has made their mark on the digital space with a significant, loyal following to match. They’re an expert within their niche and have an endearing offline personality too.

Best Chef

The recipient of this award leads a kitchen that’s the talk of the town; they create meals where you can’t help but Instagram every course.

Best DJ

The recipient of this award can move any dance floor, no matter the crowd or genre. Their name alone sells tickets to some of the city's hottest events and clubs.

Best Online Business

The recipient of this award is a master of the ecommerce game and understands what it takes to stand out from the crowd.

Best Personal Brand

The recipient of this award has done exceptional work in their industry by selling services, products or ideas under their own name.

Best Restaurant or Lounge

The recipient of this award has established a culinary gem in their city where anything less than consistent five-star ratings just doesn't happen.

Sugar Sammy

Celebrity

The recipient of this award really doesn’t need an introduction. They grace red carpets across the world on a regular basis and can usually be found in the VIP section. Sugar Sammy, comedian extraordinaire, is one of the nominees.

Digital or Media Agency

The receiving agency of this award is not only delivering immense value for its clients but also fosters a culture of growth and opportunity for its staff. The agency also foster an internal culture of supporting the community and charities around them.

(agency must verify that at least 50% of your Canadian employees are under the age of 45)

Education

The recipient of this award is teaching our next generation of thought-leaders through immersive, innovative and motivational strategies – they’re the mentor we all will one day want our children to have growing up.

Entertainment

Jessica Laventure

The recipient of this award is making waves on stage or screen through a combination of enviable charisma and technical skills. They're the reason you tune in – whatever it is. This is an interesting competition with the likes of Alexandre Despatie, Joanne Vrakas and Wilder Weir of City; Natasha Gargiulo, Freeway Frank and Andrea Collins from Virgin Radio;  and Jessica Laventure from Global TV.

Entrepreneurship

The recipient of this award is an absolute game changer in Canada, having built an exceptional business that is innovative, profitable, sustainable and enhances people’s lives.

Environmental Sustainability

The recipient of this award is the greenest thinker in the room, making decisions with our planet's future's well-being always top of mind.

Event Planning

The recipient of this award plans celebrations, soirees, galas, fundraisers and getaways that are among the hottest tickets every single year. You compare every social outing to the last event they hosted to see how it stacks up. My old friend Lorne Levitt from Total Events is nominated.

Fashion

The recipient of this award is accelerating Canada's growing fashion scene and is one of the most recognized names in the industry, both at home and abroad. Sarrah Sheiner from Show and Tell Fashion is nominated. She will be in Toronto, where is a nominee  for yet another very prestigious award.

Finance

The winner of this award is someone who is a force in all things finance-related.

Healthcare

The recipient of this award dedicates almost every waking hour to ensure others are living their most healthy lives possible and is the first person you want to call in a medical emergency.

Hospitality Management

The recipient of this award is the reason you give five stars for service and always tip above what's recommended. They’re the reason you keep coming back.

Journalism

The recipient of this award covers some of world’s most pressing issues and responsibly forms public opinion on matters both in Canada and abroad through the written word. It is nice to see Toula Drimonis nominated. She was the last editor of The Monitor Newspaper, before it supposedly switched to an online only publication but effectively folded. Toula is a great blogger.

Law

The recipient of this award makes the cast of Suits jealous with their expertise in the world of law. They’re the king or queen of the courtroom.

Not For Profit

The recipient of this award is as giving as they come, always with the intention of seeing their hard work pay off for those in need. Denburk Reid, director of community relations for the Montreal Alouettes and someone who undertakes many programs for community leaders,  is a worthy nominee.

Public Relations and Communications

The recipient of this award has all the connections, strategies, and expertise to take your business or personal brand to the next level. They elevate the brands of some of Canada’s top companies and celebrities. I like Dan Delmar and Leeja Murphy in this category; Dan started his own PR firm a few years ago while Leeja handles media relations for Comic Con and a whole lot more.

Sales  

The recipient of this award is someone who can successfully sell Leonardo DiCaprio that pen in Wolf of Wall Street. This person knows a thing or two about the perfect pitch.

Social Entrepreneurship

The recipient of this award understands the necessity of using business and innovation to solve social problems - their work often involves a goal towards the greater good.

Social Media

The recipient of this award lives and breathes in the online world, using dozens of platforms and multimedia to creatively and strategically present information to large followings.

Sports and Fitness

The recipient of this award is among the most active young professionals in Canada and often uses their skills to help others reach their personal fitness goals. Can anyone really beat the Habs' PK Subban in this category?

You can see all of the nominees here.

UTT/Herzliah community reeling after shocking and sudden death of teacher and parent

I do not recall ever meeting Sarit Malca Azran in person, but based on the things I have heard about her over the last few days,  in the wake of her shocking and tragic death,  this young woman was a special person. She was a  beloved wife, mother of  two girls aged 8 and 5 and a teacher at Herzliah High School,  who got high marks from all of her students.

Sarit Malca

On Saturday, November 15, Sarit, only 41,   went to the hospital suffering from severe stomach pain. Her condition continued to deteriorate and three days later  she passed away.

My heart goes out to her family, friends, students and colleagues. They are all naturally devastated. Why do things like this happen? How could they?

Social services agency Ometz has been in the school offering grief counselling. A Twitter hash tag #Herzstrong has been used to show how everyone will get through this experience together.

A native Israeli, Sarit taught Hebrew and Jewish history and was noted for the work she did between the school and its sister city  for a program called Gesher Chai which linked her school with those in Beer Sheva. "Sarit encouraged our family to participate in Gesher Chai earlier this year,"  said Natalie Celemencki Lang. "We hosted a 16 year old boy from Beer Sheva. She assured me it would be a life changing experience for our family, and we would learn about Israel, where no one in our family has ever gone. She was right! We loved the experience. G-d bless her and may her family know how much she was loved by everyone she touched."

Here is a video with Sarit from only a few months ago. It shows her passion

Student Ronel  Bouzaglo was so close with Malca that he gave one of the eulogies at her funeral. "Whether you were close with her or not, Morah Malca managed to create a relationship with every single student who walked through her classroom door," he said. "She also had this special way of making every student feel like they were her favorite. She was the teacher that every student felt comfortable enough to go to, to speak about anything. She just had a special way with her students that was one of a kind. The amount of people in this room right now says it all.

"Morah Malca formed bonds with her students that can never be broken. Even though she is no longer with us, the bonds she forged will never vanish. Her legacy in this school goes far beyond Judaic studies. Whether dedicating all of her time and energy into the fashion show, Gesher Chai or keeping kids who got sent out of class, hidden from the administration, Morah Malca was truly a genuinely loving person. No one will ever forget her contagious smile, her loving personality or her dedication to Herzliah. Many of us have not fully been to able rap our minds around the fact that she is no longer with us, however not a single Herzliah soul will ever forget the name Morah Malca. Her name and positive attitude will live on for years to come."

Ronel considers himself fortunate to have  had the privilege to get to know Malca well over the last few years. "Because she had taught my older siblings, I felt I already knew her even before we actually met," he said. "It was just this past Friday that I was chatting with her over Facebook about the finale of a TV  show that we both love so much that is coming up. We spoke about it every day at school, anticipating how Sons of Anarchy was going to end. She then asked me how our Washington grad trip went and how she was extremely upset that she wasn’t able to join us. All the Secondary V students were equally upset, knowing that our favorite teacher will not be sharing these special memories with us."

How special was she? Ronel tells this story. " Several years ago, there was a group of 8th graders in Morah Malca’s class who were having difficulties understanding the material for their test," he said. "The day before their test, Morah Malca wasn’t going to let her students walk into class the unprepared. So she took matters into her own hands. She invited all of  the 8th graders to her house the night before to tutor them and to ensure that they all passed with flying colors. She even offered them candy and snacks to make the study session as enjoyable as possible. One student described the  smile on her face as she handed back the tests to her students with nothing but passing grades. This truly shows us the type of woman Morah Malca was inside and outside of the classroom."

Jeremy Levett, a bright and charismatic student at Herzliah whom I know, shared with me how all of his classmates are coping. "She was by far one of the most outgoing and inspiring teachers," he said. "She made all students feel like they had someone to talk to and was a source of inspiration for us all.

"Students have been taking this hard," he continued. "There has been a lot of emotion in the school. The administration has handled things  well and took care of the situation in a very professional manner. She touched each and every student in the school in their own special way."

 

On the Paperman and Sons website, tributes are pouring in. "Sarit started her teaching career at Herzliah when I was vice principal," writes Vera Center. "Her enthusiasm and dedication to her students were admirable. She will surely be missed by many."

"A rare gem!" wrote some parents of former students. " How fortunate for us as parents to have had Sarit plant seeds of wisdom in our children. How rare in any field it is to have someone perform a function with a smile, expertise, and care so much as to go beyond their mere job description."

Wrote  Sandra & Moise Moghrabi: "As is much of the community, we are still in utter shock about the untimely passing of beautiful Sarit z'l. She had a direct and positive impact on each and every person she met, myself included."

"I had the pleasure of doing my teaching degree with Sarit many years ago," said Melissa Margles. "She was warm, caring, kind and fun. It is clear that she was the same way with her students who were so very lucky to have had her as a teacher and mentor for some." 

Amiel Bender, the Chazzan Sheini at Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem Congregation and formerly  Youth Director at Beth Ora Congregation, expressed what a   terrible loss for the UTT/Herzliah family and the Jewish educational profession of Montreal at large has suffered. "Sarit lit up the room with her enthusiasm and energy and enhanced the lives of so many of our youth with her knowledge and empathy," he said.  "Her smile was contagious and her actions sincere. Whenever she came to work at Beth Ora with the Herzliah kids she was a pleasure to work with."

 

University sports in Montreal merits more media coverage

I spent the morning of November 18 at the Ed Meagher Arena of Concordia University watching the host Concordia Stingers play the Carleton Ravens in Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) Women's Hockey Action. It was part of an activity coordinated by my English Montreal School Board colleague Daniel Smajovits, linking university sports and the goal of "staying in school" with our youngster. More than 800 students were on hand for the 2-1 Carleton victory in a shootout, but our commitment does not end there. We will be working with Concordia athletes throughout the academic year as they begin to integrate themselves into school activities.

 

Here is a great report that aired on CBC TV.

This was a nostalgic visit for me. Not only did I graduate from Concordia in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Journalism, but  for the following two years I worked for the Department of Athletics as sports information officer. My colleague from the time, Catherine Grace, is still there and at the helm.  While I was a student I helped launch The Concordian Newspaper, serving as founding sports editor. I always appreciated the quality of university sports, be it football, soccer, basketball, hockey, wrestling or rugby.

EMSB Commissioner Joseph Lalla and students at the ceremonial opening faceoff.

Concordia has come a long way these past three decades. While the arena can't necessarily hold more people, the $8 million upgrade it underwent is noticeable. All of their teams offer great entertainment and  I would recommend more parents bring their kids. Women's hockey, for example, showcases some young ladies who are truly elite at what they do. We were excited to work with them this year and it  was wonderful to watch the reaction of the many young girls who attended the game, motivated that they can set their minds to anything they wish.

 

It was great to catch up with men's hockey coach Kevin Figsby,  men's basketball coach John Dore (in his final season) and women's head coach Les Lawton, These are the ultimate gentlemen who work tirelessly year-round to plan their programs. They do a lot more than stand behind the bench, handling everything from travel arrangements to scouting duties.

I got to meet Patrick Boivin, the son of former Montreal Canadiens president Pierre Boivin. Patrick was named athletic director at Concordia last year and he is anxious to work with the schools and anyone else in the community who can give his program a boost. One of the sensational features at Concordia is the Stinger Dome, a heated indoor structure where their athletes can train year-round.

 

What I find really sad is how most of the Montreal sports media are ignoring university sports. All of the teams from Concordia and McGill should be getting regular coverage. Not everyone can afford to go watch the Canadiens play at the Bell Centre. The price is right at the university level. The three-pack of a hot dog, drink and chips cost me $5; one -third of what the Bell Centre would charge me.

 

If you have not been out to any university sports events, well then mark it down on your "to do" list. You will not be sorry.

Symposium on Inflammatory Bowel Disease provides valuable information

Nicholaos Contaxakis does not pull any punches. The Montreal businessman suffers from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and as the emcee for Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Month Patient Symposium held November 15 at Hotel Ruby Foo’s he shared intimate details about his condition.

“We have to stop being ashamed of this illness and be willing to talk about it,” Nicolas told an audience of sufferers and family members of those with IBD.

Nicolas is correct. I have had Crohn’s Disease for 27 years, a mild case which fortunately has not interfered greatly with my day to day life.  When I was first diagnosed I did not know another person with the same problem. I kept to myself and for 11 years my main employer did not even know about my condition, which was all the more interesting given the fact I travelled internationally and usually roomed with my boss. I guess I did not want to get stigmatized or held back from anyone exciting travel experiences.

As time went on and I moved on to my next and current job I did not keep it a secret anymore. I felt comfortable bringing it up in conversation. When I had some preventive surgery a decade ago I even wrote about it in my column. By this time organizations like the Crohn's and Colitis Canada and the McGill IBD Research Group had high profiles. Not only were more events being held, but people with IBD were stepping forward

Despite all of this, there is still a lot of work to be done. As Nicolas rightly pointed asked: “How many people know this is Movember versus Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Month?”

I was encouraged by the number of people on hand for the symposium, where sessions were held simultaneously in English and French covering the latest IBD research, financial planning for people living with IBD and pregnancy and fertility.

Dr. Maya Saleh, an Associate Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry and Director of the Inflammation and Cancer Program at the McGillUniversity Health Centre, was the first speaker. She is Associate Member in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Associate member of the Goodman Cancer Centre and a member of the Center for the Study of Host Resistance and the Division of Critical Care of the MUHC Research Institute. She joined the faculty of Medicine at McGill University in 2005 and is a McGill University Dawson Scholar, a FRSQ Chercheur-Boursier Junior 2 and a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Investigator in  the Pathogenesis of Infectious diseases.

Left top right: Nicholaos Contaxakis (English MC). Andrée Mathieu (Janssen, event sponsor), Dr. Maya Saleh (McGill University) , Yael Mamane (Vertex Pharmaceuticals), Richard Chiasson (Sunlife Financials), Anick Murray (French MC).

Dr. Saleh gave a general overview of the GI tract and then spoke about the genetic effect of children and IBD and the environmental triggers for adults who get the disease. “As we get older our immune systems become weaker and weaker,” she explained.

How heritable is IBD? As a matter of comparison she listed bladder cancer as very low in this category compared to Celiac Disease, which is very high. Colitis and Ulceritis Colitis fall in the middle at 50 percent.

While reviewing the  different medications used to treat IBD, Dr. Saleh spoke optimistically about research currently being done at McMaster University in Hamilton about fecal transfers and success in this area thus far related to cases of C Difficile. “It is in the really early stages,” said Dr. Saleh, “but the hope is fecal transplants could prove to be a cure and administered in the form of a suppository. How often will you need it? Once a year? Once a week?”

This experimental therapy involves injecting fecal matter into the GI tract of sufferers of ulcerative colitis. According to reports, the McMaster study has involved participants suffering from ulcerative colitis receiving fecal material from specially screened donors, while others received a placebo mixture. Similar to an enema, the mixtures are infused into their colon with a syringe.

The idea of a fecal transplant is that "good" bacteria from healthy stool move in and take up residence, crowding out "bad" bacteria such as C. diff. The donor (typically a patient's family member) is screened for conditions that could disqualify them, including hidden disease or parasites. They are instructed to produce a sample at home, put it on ice and take it to the hospital for the procedure. Current treatment for IDB includes prednisone, imuran,  mercaptopurine (6mp), methotrexate, remicade, humira and stelara (ustekinumab).

New treatments coming down the pipe include vedolizumb, which was approved  in the US last May 2014 for patients with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.  Vedolizumab is described as an option when conventional therapy is not tolerated or does not provide sufficient release of symptoms.  

Tofacitinib (Xeljanz) is a Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug (DMARD) first available in 2012. It is currently approved for the treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis with or without methotrexate and now in trial phases for IBD.

Richard Chiasson from Sun Life Financial presented some tips on financial planning for Crohn’s and Colitis patients.  Chiasson was a nurse for 21 years so he is in a good condition to advise clients with different illnesses. “The greatest list to depleting your wealth is your health because you cannot control it,” he noted.

What can derail your retirement plans? “You live too long, die too soon or become sick and disabled,” was Chiasson’s response. “Our lives can turn on a dime.”

Dr. Talat Bessissow is  an Assistant Professor to the Division of Gastroenterology. He  completed post-graduate training in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and a fellowship in inflammatory bowel disease and   advanced endoscopic imaging at the Gasthuisberg University Hospital in Leuven, Belgium. His current research focuses on the role and outcomes of mucosal healing in inflammatory bowel disease. He has clinical duties at the MUHC, teaching students and supervising medical residents and will part of a new IBD Centre being set to be established at the Montreal General Hospital facility next April. 

Dr. Bessissow stated from the outset that there is no difference between the average person and someone with IBD completing a normal pregnancy. However, fertility can go down significantly when surgery involves the removal of the rectum because this creates inflammation and scarring.  The solution for a woman who has not had her family yet is to consider a temporary ileostomy – a temporary bag or pouch that allows the rectum to stay in place.
 

The goal in pregnancy, Dr. Bessissow’s stressed, is to be in remission and maintain that for the entire nine month period. Statistics indicate that that there is a 14 percent chance of an IDB post-partum flare. Reduce x-rays and if you need a colonoscopy only do so in the second trimester. In contrast, flex sigmoidscopies are low risk. Women with a pouch and those with parianal disease should have C-sections.

In terms of medications, those taking a biologic like Remicade should stop that treatment after 32 weeks and resume once the baby is born. As for Humira, this should be halted between weeks 36 and 38. Naturally, if the illness flares up the treating physicians will decide how to handle this.

Communication between the obstetrician and the pediatrician is paramount in cases like this.

The program concluded with can emphasis on the need for volunteers. It was interesting to see the new Generation C Group, a gathering of young adults who have started to meet and have a fitness-oriented fundraiser planned for January. In keeping with the bilingual nature of the organization, the conference ran French sessions concurrently with the English ones.

Corpus: Quebec premiere of provocative play on the Holocaust is a real winner

Teesri Duniya Theatre has a real winner on its hands with the Quebec premiere of  Corpus, the award winning play with  a unique storyline related to the Holocaust.

Corpus continues at the cozy MAI (Montreal Arts Interculturels) in the McGill Ghetto   (3680 Jeanne Mance) through November 30. Playwright Darrah Teitel, who penned the script while she was studying at the National Theatre School in Montreal, was at the November 13 opening I attended and will stay her through the weekend and participate in some panel discussions.

Chiazzese and Paulson. (Photos by Mateo H. Cassis)

While Teitel notes this is not based on a true story, such a scenario could have very easily occurred.  The MAI stage is divided into the present and the past. We see Megan (Holly Gauthier-Frankel), a brilliant Canadian genocide scholar who obsessively collects the stories of war crimes through the internet. She stumbles across an unlikely relationship between a Jewish prisoner in Auschwitz and the wife of a Nazi officer. That plays out on the other side of the stage and behind a draped backdrop. The music used is effective and so are the video projections which constantly flash across the screen. This all works really well for in no time at all the audience is wrapped up into the compelling relationship between Eli (a very effective Davide Chiazzese) and his forbidden romance with Eva (Melissa Paulson).

We are also introduced to present-day Eva (Susan Bain), Megan’s thesis advisor Homer (Gilles Plouffe) and her online  lover and Eva’s grandson  Heinrich (Ian  Geldart). Artistic Director Rahul Varma, whom I got the chance to meet for the first time, did  a top-notch job selecting the cast with director Liz Valdez and their team. The flashback scenes are well played out and Chiazzese, an Italian boy from East End Montreal whom I just saw in Billy (The Days of Howling), is clearly a true talent. His roles in Billy and Corpus are completely different which well illustrates his versatility. Gauthier-Frankel is a ball of fire and showcases so much energy in her role that one gets really attached to the character and the significant challenges she faces towards the ends of the story –not to mention a surprise revelation.

Geldart and Gauthier-Frankel.

There are Q & A talkbacks after each Friday evening performance and panel discussions after each Sunday performance. Varma and General Manager Linda Levesque told me that they really want to develop a pedagogical exercise around this play. In keeping with that, some matinee shows will be attended by high school students. I brought my colleague  Tino Bordonaro, the social studies consultant at the English Montreal School Board and he was quite impressed with what he saw. See their teachers guide.

As for the panel discussion, the one slated for after the November 16 show  will feature an artist’s panel answering the question of  What sort of responsibility does an artist undertake when creating or participating in a piece of art involving war? What needs to be taken into account when recounting events through art that have had such long-lasting effects on a community? It will be moderated by CBC’s Sudha Krishnan and include as  panelists Geldart, Bain, playwright  Teitel,  director Valdez, Myrna Selkirk (Professor). On November 23 the question of Where do we Draw the Line?  will be dealt with. As much as we attempt to do so, we cannot enter into the past or view it through a transparent window. Do you think it is a help or a hindrance to historical memory to apply personal stories in modern day research? Where do we draw the line between personal stories and academic work? Again, Krishnan will moderate and her panelists will be Sarah-Jane Kerrlapsly from the Canadian Jewish Association, Bob McBryde of Amnesty International and Jacqueline Celemencki  from the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre. Finally, on November 30, the focus will be on Digitizing the Past. We are now living in a society that has access to technology that was not available to the previous generations. With this in mind, do you think it is this generation’s responsibility to continue interpreting the events of the Holocaust and other historical atrocities? What barriers does technology break down, and what drawbacks does it create? The moderator will be Meghan Pearson and two professors as panelists: Stacey Zembrzyckia and Ted Little.  

Two shows  are already sold out and tickets for others in this 139 seat venue are going quickly. Wednesday to Saturday all shows are at 8 p.m. Sunday matinees are at 3 p.m. Tickets are   $25 for adults; $20 for students/seniors; and $15 for groups (10 or more). There are also group specials. For more information call  514-982-3386 or visit mai.qc.ca/billetterie.

Here are some clips from the show and interviews with the director and the actors.

Cat Spencer to mark 30 years on radio

Congratulations to one of the nicest guys in radio, The Beat  925 FM morning man Cat Spencer. On Thursday, November 13 he will mark an incredible 30 years in radio.

Cat, whose co-host is the adorable and charismatic Sarah Bartok, has been with The Beat for four years now. He came aboard just as they were about to launch the new name and format to replace Q 92.  In fact, he had been named the successor to Aaron Rand several months earlier but because he was still under contract to Virgin Radio at the time he had to stay home and wait for a certain period of time to expire.

 

Cat has called Montreal home for decades,  but  he was born in Saskatoon. He got his first job at the age of 17 in Fort Frances, Ontario. From there, it was on to the bright lights of Moose Jaw, Edmonton, Toronto and, of course, Montreal. Cat often brags that for the first 18 years of his career he never missed a day of work! Now that streak is over: he has two young kids who bring home germs from school so he calls in sick all the time!  

For those who listen to the show, you will know that Cat has tremendous chemistry with Bartok and news/traffic reporter Natasha Hall and their cast of many others. He always good for a few gags each morning, notably his hilarious prank phone calls for which he comes clean at the end.

Good luck Cat!!

Yeh! Yogurt introduces grilled cheese to its menus

I dropped by the Quartier Cavendish location of Yeh! Yogurt today just before lunch time and was pleasantly surprised to see that grilled cheese had been added to the menu at the special introductory price of $2.99.

Yeh! stores boast a self-serve format offering over 60 revolving flavours of frozen yogurt.  At Yeh! the customer can choose from a wide variety of healthy and sweet toppings in an attractive and hip “urban cool” funky pink setting  –pink being the official colour. The debut of grilled cheese shows that this place is a lot more than just yogurt.  At most locations you can purchase healthy shakes, both sweet and savory crepes, premium coffee, iced coffee and waffle cones or bowls.  There are even soups at some locales.

Ariel showcases a grilled cheese sandwich and chocolate shake.

Ariel, the shift manager when I visited, said that the grilled cheese sandwiches are catching on. At the Cavendish location they should become popular with students from the nearby schools in particular. Mimi Cohen (no relation), the marketing director for Yeh! Yogurt, said that the company has developed  "a secret signature grilled cheese recipe that makes ours so mouth watering delish."

Asked to elaborate, Mimi said: "We have  a unique grilling technique using our Waffle-Irons. The extreme heat emitted from the iron combined with the perfect level of pressure carmelizes the butter and adds a crispiness to the bread. The result is a unique flavour and a mouth watering grilled cheese experience like none other out there!"

Having taken the taste test today, I must agree. It was one of the better grilled cheese sandwiches I have had in some time. 

Owners Jon and Marvin Gurman are looking at worldwide expansion for Yeh!Yogurt, with destinations as far as Lebanon and China about to join the family.