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.

Stem cell donor drives for four year old girl move to Vancouver, Toronto and US

Torontonians are being asked to help a four year old Montreal girl survive. On Sunday, April 21,  2013  at Bialik Hebrew Day School (2760 Bathurst Street) and Aish Hatorah Synagogue (949 Clark Avenue in Vaughn ) a stem cell donor drive will take place in  Toronto for  Jayden Roll.  She was recently diagnosed with MDS, a disease that may soon develop into AMK Leukemia. In order to survive, Jayden will need to find a stem cell donor in the coming weeks. But first, she will have to find a match. This is where Torontonians can now help

.

First one needs to find out how they can become a donor here . You must be between the ages of 17 to 50 to register between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m, at the two locations or register online at www.curejayden.ca. Volunteers are also being sought to supervise donors.

Native Montrealer Jennifer Kaufman, who is friends with Jayden's parents,  is organizing the Toronto drive.  She asks everyone to spread the word and follow Jayden's facebook page and Twitter feed.

There are drives happening like this all over Canada and the  US. This  includes Vancouver's Jewish Community Centre (950 41st Avenue West) on April 17 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.). See the website for more.

Here is a touching piece Montreal’s Rabbi Menachem Posner shared with me a few weeks ago about Jayden

 “Mom, I had fun! Rolling the matzah dough was my favorite!” Four year old Jayden Roll beamed up at her mother in the lobby of the YM-YWHA in Snowdon. In many ways she is just like the 5,000 other toddlers and children who ground wheat, rolled dough, and baked matzah at the Living Legacy Model Matzah Bakery. But she is also very different. Sometimes she is just too tired and weak to do any activities at all.  She also has a short time left until the doctors think that she will need to remain in the hospital for an extended length of time.

Jayden has pre-leukemia, known as MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome) which is very rare in children. Jayden’s doctors predict that it will most likely progress into acute myelogenos leukemia, or AML, at which point she will need to undergo chemotherapy and ultimately depend on a marrow transplant to survive.

Just a month ago, Jayden, a bouncy little girl with blond hair and an easy smile, was enrolled in JPPS, which she attended together with her younger brother, Joshua. A bright student, she was eagerly looking forward to learning about Passover. When she began complaining about aches in her legs and displaying extreme weakness and lethargy, her mother, Kelly Goodman, took her to the doctor. After things got worse and Jayden began falling asleep all the time, a blood test confirmed that she was indeed suffering from a form of pre-leukemia so rare that the Montreal Children’s Hospital had never treated it before.

The Roll family’s life turned upside down. Jayden has been going twice-weekly for blood tests and has already had two blood transfusions, which explain why she looks and acts exactly like a healthy little girl—at least some of the time. In order to avoid infection, she stopped going to school and her parents rarely take her out, even grocery shopping. Kelly has quit her job to be able to care for her daughter.

“Since she is not in school, and Passover is probably going to be the last holiday that she will celebrate before she goes to the hospital, I have been trying to teach her as much as I can at home,” says her mom. “But the other day we dropped off [her brother,] Josh at school and she saw the other kids going to the Model Matzah Bakery at the Y. She so wanted to join them, and we were torn. At first I considered joining the school group, but my husband, Warren, reminded me how careful we needed to be.”

 

Jayden left and her brother at the Matzah factory.

Kelly contacted Aviva Miller at the Y, and things started moving. Rabbi Dovid Weinbaum, program director of Living Legacy, who operates the model matzah bakery, offered to hold a private show just for Jayden, Josh and a few family members.

According to Marlene Jennings, executive director of the YM-YWHA, “When Rabbi Dovid came to me with his request, I thought ‘this is exactly what the Y is all about. We have to make sure that no one at all is left out.’”

From exactly 2:30 to 3:30 pm, between one school group and another, Rabbi Weinbaum carved out an hour of time for Jayden and her guests. The staff made sure to sweep the floors, wipe down the counters, and put fresh paper on the table where Jayden would roll her matzah to minimize chances of infection.

In a rare island of normalcy in a life that has become decidedly abnormal, Jayden giggled as she pretended to drive to a farm, kneeled down as she separated wheat from the stalk and, together with her brother and cousin, turned the crank on the miniature well as she drew water to mix together with the flour. She then rolled the dough into matzah, the thin crackerlike wafers eaten on Passover to commemorate the Biblical Exodus, when the Israelites left Egypt in such a hurry that they did not have time to allow their bread to rise.

Rabbi Weinbaum says that getting a hug from Jayden and hearing how much she loved the experience is what his work at the Living Legacy is all about. “We are here to make sure that every child can experience the beauty of Judaism, no matter the situation.” 

Kelly is realistic about what the future holds. “We just found out this week that neither of her brothers are a match for her, so we are starting to look for a donor,” she said

.

Andrea Collins moves to Virgin morning shift: Bergman back on the air

There are some changes at Virgin Radio.  Brand Director Mark Bergman is returning to the drive home show as host. Andrea Collins goes back to her original 9 a.m. to Noon shift and Nikki shifts to weekend afternoons.

Collins, seen her speaking at a recent high school Career Day.

I just interviewed Collins two weeks ago and was about to blog about how amazing she is when the news of her time change broke. You will see in the video how much she adored the drive home show.  But as a team player I know she will rise to the occasion, following Freeway Frank and Natasha.

Collins is beautiful, personable and good camera presence. With Virgin likely to become part of Bell Media in the not too distant future, I definitely see  CTV Montreal finding a role for her.

See the Fagstein blog for the total scoop on why Bergman is going back on air.

Here is my video interview with Collins: