Montreal Times 25-16 January 18, 2020 by Montreal Times

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Vol. 25 No. 16

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FÊTE DES NEIGES 2020

Montreal Fête des neiges 2020, which will be held over four consecutive weekends, starting this weekend to February 9, 2020. There promises to something for both regular and new patrons of this popular winter event, and this year they’ll be able to enjoy it in a fresh setting, with Espace 67, Parc Jean-Drapeau’s new event playground, hosting the Fête for the first time. A must-attend Montréal winter gathering spot, the Fête des neiges offers a full program geared toward embracing the outdoors, enjoying an attractive array of sports and playful activ-

ities, as well as a series of shows and special events. Accompanied by our dazzling team of animators, expect to be swept up by winter magic. Whether it’s the awesome view of Montréal’s vista from aboard the majestic Ice Boat, the exhilaration of speeding downhill on one of our 16 tube slides or a relaxing time skating in the woods alongside the river, the Fête des neiges will quickly have you liking the cold and enjoying some truly memorable moments the entire family will long remember. As you continue along, the La Fête will take you to the zone Faim de Loup, where you can

take a well-deserved break while indulging in tasty comfort food from one of the many food concessions stands on site. Shows galore– Ice sculptor Nicolas Godon will be back to marvel you with his spontaneous ice-sculpting demonstrations and performances. Meanwhile, you can be witness to the impressive rise of a mountain, staged by acrobatic artists from Cirque Éloize – a troupe that, for the first time, will be putting on a series of artistic segments featuring thrillseeking mountain climbers! You can also warm up by dancing to the energetic beats of many mu-

sical artists or at the Boulathèque with its iced karaoke. Sports activities to warm you up – Our animators are poised to challenge you in our sports zone, where you can play a game of a human-scale giant foosball and boot hockey games. The Maneige experience will enable youngsters to be introduced to skiing and snowboarding on a course specially set up at Espace 67, as the Parks Canada crew will provide introduction to snowshoeing sessions.

REM taking shape - looking back at 2019 his past year the REM system began to take shape. Work on

By Bonnie Wurst mtltimes.ca the project began in April 2018, but Montrealers really started to see its progress with their own eyes during 2019. Even with construction causing major headaches for commuters, with all the lane closures and detours, it was impressive to behold as parts of the structure became visible. The reality of the project began to sink in all over the Island. Work on the elevated part of the structure

running from the Technoparc in Ville Saint-Laurent to SainteAnne-de-Bellevue in the West Island was hard to miss. Foundation piles were driven into the ground and then the pillars were put up. Massive launching gantries 'Marie' (after Marie Curie Street in the Technoparc) and 'Anne' (nickname for SainteAnne-de-Bellevue) were then put into action, lifting 50 ton concrete segments and then sliding them into place to build the structure where the tracks for the REM trains will be laid down. By December, it was clear that 'Marie' and 'Anne' were soon to meet. Here is a look back at 2019 and what has been accomplished so far. CONSTRUCTION WORKERS: They may not have always been as visible, but over 1000 construction workers formed the backbone

Mount-Royal tunnel - REM of the project. Operators, steelworkers, carpenters, reinforcing ironworkers, mechanics, electricians, surveyors, engineers and technicians, were busy all year round. Progress on the

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DEDICATION • DEVOTION • DETERMINATION 2

REM would have not been possible if not for the efforts of these workers. - PILLARS: Of the 514 pillars that will be needed for the elevated parts of the structure throughout the Montreal's metropolitan region, 158 were put up mostly in Pointe-SainteCharles and the West Island. - CONCRETE SEGMENTS: The concrete segments for the elevated structures were prefabricated under a controlled environment in a factory.The method offered an assurance of quality and rapid progress - with 1,134 prefabricated segments out of 4,563 made in 2019. - WEST ISLAND SPANS: The 'Marie' and 'Anne' launching gantries were kept busy. In 2019, 94 spans were installed between the pillars of the elevated structure along Highway 40 in the West Island. In total, 366 spans are required for the REM system. However, the gantries will be on a break for the winter and back in action in the spring of 2020. - TUNNEL BORING MACHINE: Parts for the tunnel-boring machine (TBM) arrived in Montreal last October 30th and was soon after named 'Alice', the winning name chosen in a contest held by the REM. The huge piece of

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machinery will be used in digging a 3.5km long tunnel more than 30 metres below the surface from the Technoparc in St. Laurent all the way to Montreal-Trudeau airport. It is being assembled and will start drilling in 2020. EDOUARD-MONTPETIT STATION - 60 METERS DEEP: Work for the downtown Edouard-Montpetit station in 2019, involved digging 60 metres deep and excavating more than 30,000 m3 rock in order to build the underground REM station, scheduled to open in 2022. Once completed, the station will be the second deepest in North America at 70 meters, with the Washington Park light rail station located in Portland, Oregon being the deepest at 79 metres. - FIRST TRACKS LAID DOWN: Running right down the center of Highway 10 in the South Shore, the first 2 kilometres of tracks for the system have been installed - a very significant moment for the entire project. Further installation of the tracks and electrical systems will continue into next year, ending with a test track in the Fall of 2020. REM STATIONS UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Significant progress has been made on 9 stations in the South Shore. The sta-

tion's architectural design will feature materials such as wood and glass (rather than concrete), in order to blend in more harmoniously with the neighbourhoods. In total, the REM will have 26 stations. - FIRST REM STRUCTURE COMPLETED: The maintenance centre for the REM, located in Saint-Eustache, is the very first structure that is 100% complete. For now, the centre will be temporarily used by Exo trains in 2020, then by the REM once it is up and running. - MOUNT-ROYAL TUNNEL WORK POSTPONED: Users of the Montreal-Deux-Montagnes train line will get a welcome reprieve for the winter, with the highly controversial closing of the Mount Royal tunnel being postponed until March 30th 2020. The significant problems users are expected to experience for two years have many wondering how they will manage their daily commutes, even with alternative public transportation measures. CDPQ Infra, who is overseeing the REM project said 'the delay will allow it to better plan work on the tunnel, but will not delay the timeline of the overall REM project'. Check back soon with the Montreal Times for the 'REM in 2020' and what is to come. January 18, 2020 •

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REM rolling forward into 2020 n 2019, work on the REM progressed at an impressive pace. Pillars for parts of

By Bonnie Wurst mtltimes.ca the elevated structure were put up in PointeSainte-Charles and the West Island, launching gantries 'Marie' and 'Anne' rolled forward, lifting and placing huge concrete segments to complete 94 spans of the structure along Highway 40 and parts for the Tunnel Boring Machine arrived in Montreal and will soon be in action digging a tunnel to MontrealTrudeau airport. There was also the excavation for the 60-metre deep underground EdouardMontpetit station downtown that kept work crews busy and the first 2 kilometres of tracks were installed along Hwy 10, with significant progress being made on nine stations in the South Shore. The year ended with the REM's maintenance centre in Saint-Eustache being completed - and the announcement of the Mount-Royal tunnel work being postponed until the end of next March.With close to 20 construction sites un-

Crossing the Canal Lachine - REM 2019 derway across Montreal's metropolitan region, what can be expected in 2020? Although some of the work is subject to change based on discussions with partners involved in the project, here is the schedule of work the REM is planning for the New Year: SOUTH SHORE The most ambitious and exciting part of project in the new year will be the first test of the system on a 3.5km section of the line between the Rive-Sud station and Milan

Boulevard in the Fall of 2020. Other work on the South Shore includes the following: - Continued construction of the Rive-Sud and Du Quartier stations and their related infrastructure. - New phase of work at Panama station and the future bus terminal. - Continued installation of the track and electrical system in the centre of Highway 10. - Continuation of work on the central span of the Samuel De Champlain Bridge.

DOWNTOWN - Construction of Îledes-Sœurs station and channel bridge. - Continued construction of the elevated structure, installation of tracks and electrical system in Pointe-SaintCharles. - Continuation of rehabilitation work on the railway overpass, replacement of railway tracks in Griffintown. - Central Station: Replacement of electrical and mechanical systems, creation of entrance to the concourse, con-

struction of the central platform. - McGill: Work to connect the station and the Mont-Royal Tunnel, start of platform construction, installation of electrical and mechanical systems in nearby buildings. - Edouard-Montpetit: Work to connect the station to the MontRoyal Tunnel, start of construction of platforms and station. DEUX -MONTAGNES - As of March 30, 2020: Train service suspen-

sion between Central Station and Du Ruisseau station. - Excavation work and replacement of existing railway tracks in the Mont-Royal Tunnel. - Dismantling of the catenary and removal of the tracks between Central Station and Du Ruisseau station. - Construction of steel structures and roofs at Canora, Mont-Royal, A40 and Bois-Franc stations. - Opening of construction sites at Du Ruisseau and Montpellier stations. - Engineering works: Demolition and reconstruction of the JeanTalon and Cornwall bridges, continued work on the Riviere-desPrairies bridges. AIRPORT AND WEST ISLAND - Continuation of work on the elevated structure: Construction of pillars, production of segments, installation of tracks on the deck. - Construction work begins on Pointe-Claire and Sainte-Anne-deBellevue stations. - Winter/Spring 2020: Departure of Alice, the tunnel-boring machine, from the Technoparc to the airport. - Spring 2020: Resumption of activities of the two launching beams, Anne and Marie (suspended all winter). Check in with the Montreal Times for news and updates on the REM project this year!

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February 18, 2020

11.

Montreal to raise parking tickets? Apparently, the Mayor of Montreal,Valérie Plante and her cabinet would like to raise an additional $11 million in revenue with raising parking tickets around the city of Montreal.

The new parking increases are to be tabled in the February city council meeting for adaption. The Montreal’s opposition party says making the city’s parking signs easier to read should be

the priority. To see more please visit:

https://mtltimes.ca/Montreal/montreal/montreal-toraise-parking-tickets//

Montreal earthquake hit this past week According to Earthquake Canada at 5:38 a.m. this morning a 3.6 magnitude earthquake rocked the south of Montreal. People in Verdun, LaSalle, Pierrefonds-Rox-

boro boroughs and as far a Rigaud, said they were waken by a large bang and soft shaking. Earthquake Canada stated there have been no reports of damage at this

time and at this size of an earthquake none should be reported. To see more please visit: https://mtltimes.ca/Montreal/montreal/montrealearthquake-this-morning/

JAPANESE GERMAN ARABIC CATALAN

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Gourmand at less than 25$ from all the reduced-priced table d’hôte offered at : Brasserie 701, Bevo Bar + Pizzéria, Kyo Bar Japonais, Maggie Oakes, .

https://mtltimes.ca/Montreal/montrealrestaurants/5-menus-to-tryduring-happening-gourmand-at-less-than-25/ January 18, 2020 •

Some happenings to look forward to in Montreal in 2020 W the power of music on people, whether it be music therapy sessions for premature babies, a group of autistic girls On the evening of Jan- who form their own uary 16, Martin Luther rock band, or how King, Jr. Day will be cel- music can contribute ebrated four days prior towards the healing of to the holiday taking cancer and stroke vicplace in the U.S. with a tims. Ms. Raynauld will multi-musical tribute to be present at the Januthe legacy of the late ary 24 screening, and Civil Rights leader will conduct a Q&A called “We Shall Over- session immediately folcome”, which will make lowing the screening. its only Canadian stop *** on the show’s 40-city tour at Theatre MaisonPellegrini Productions neuve of Place des Arts. Produced by Damien will once again take Sneed, who has worked over the stage of the with such music legends Leonardo Da Vinci Cenas Stevie Wonder, tre in St. Leonard with a Aretha Franklin and brand new collaboraDiana Ross, “We Shall tion by director AntoOvercome” comprises nio DiVerdis and writer of a nine-piece band Tony Calabretta, who that represents a wide put together the hit assortment of African comedies “Don’t Blame American culture and It On The Stork” and music such as tradi- “Damn Those Wedding tional and modern Bells!”. From January 15 gospel, classical music, to 26, the centre will be jazz, musical theatre and the place to catch their spirituals. Combined latest comedy “The with actual recordings Glam Mothers”. Starfrom Dr. King’s best- ring Calabretta, along known speeches, the with Tony DeSantos, show offers a lively, joy- Brittany Drisdelle, Clauous celebration of one dia Ferri and Natasha of the greatest inspira- Gargiulo, the play centional leaders in mod- tres on two Glam ern history. Ticket Mothers, who are deprices for “We Shall fined as grandmothers Overcome” range be- who are still young and tween $35 and $95, and beautiful as well as divas can be obtained by call- to boot, named Luisa ing 514-842-2112 or and Maria. The two Glam Mothers are regoing to: www.placesdesarts.com lated through their children’s marriage, and the pair couldn’t be more *** different from each What is the connec- other, which becomes tion between music and vividly evident when the human brain, espe- their worlds suddenly cially when it comes to collide. how music has that *** unique power to enhance or improve A perfect choice for human life in general? The answers are pro- families during the upvided in “Tuning the coming March school Brain with Music”, the break is the new edition acclaimed documentary of the “Disney On Ice” by Isabelle Raynauld series, which will take that will have its theatri- place from March 4 to 8 cal world premiere on for 11 performances at January 24 at the Cin- Place Bell in Laval. This ema du Musee of the time, it’s called “Road Montreal Museum of Trip Adventures”, as Fine Arts, as part of a Mickey Mouse and his week-long run at the gang of friends pack cinema that continues their bags to set off on until January 31.The 79- a globe-trotting advenminute documentary ture to some of the fawill give a more human vorite destinations in focus to this subject, as the world of Disney. it features examples of And joining Mickey will

ell, the new to: year (and the www.montrealfringe.ca new decade) is here, and ***

Montreal has hit the ground running when it comes to upcoming events on the arts and entertainment scene. So here is a selection of events that are not only happening this month, but in the months ahead through 2020. *** How would you like get away from the January cold by warming up to some engaging contemporary dance and theatre? That is possible with the 10th anniversary edition of the Bouge D’Ici Festival, which takes place at the MainLine Theatre (3997 St. Laurent Boulevard) until January 19. Curated by Amy Blackmore and Kenny Streule, Bouge D’Ici is a festival that for the past decade has strongly supported Montreal’s dance community, especially its crew of talented emerging contemporary dance artists. This year’s festival will include its popular flagship show “Common Space/L’Espace Commun”, which gives aspiring and emerging choreographers the opportunity to re-work a previous choreographic pursuit that will end up as part of a compilation performance; the “So You Think That Was Dance?” showcase; the return by popular demand of Amy Blackmore’s grant writing workshop; “Broadway Super Awesome Fun Time”, and a run of the solo show “Outside Ethel: Inside”, which was a hit at last year’s Toronto Fringe Festival. For more information regarding the festival, go • January 18, 2020

be characters from some of Disney’s bestknown movies past and present such as “Toy Story 4”, “The Lion King”, “Aladdin”, “Frozen”, “Moana” and “Mary Poppins Returns”. As well, “Road Trip Adventures” will be the most participatory production in the long history of “Disney On Ice”, as 50 lucky audience members will be part of the action, when they will be invited to ride in small groups with Mickey and his friends in a specially-designed vehicle that will take them from destination to destination. Ticket prices start at $20, with a limit of eight tickets per person. To purchase tickets, go to the Place Bell box office, call 1-855-6344472, or go to either: www.placebell.ca or www.evenko.ca

“Slava’s Snowshow” for 13 performances from April 8 to 19. The show, which has played in dozens of countries in front of a world-wide audience of over five million spectators (and sold over 200,000 tickets in Quebec alone), is a wonderful sight and sound spectacle that will recapture the youthful spirit of adults and reveal an amazing work of interactive art for children. And the “snowstorm” that concludes the show will certainly take your breathe away. To get your tickets, call 514437-1330 or go to: www.theatrestdenis.com

Roger Hodgson, the legendary singer-songwriter who co-founded the popular 70s rock group Supertramp, will round out the year with a two-night engagement as part of his Breakfast in America 40th Anniversary World Tour on December 1 and 2 at Place des Arts. Accompanied by a fourpiece band, Hodgson will perform the songs from the group’s 1979 album, which sold over 25 million copies around the world (including a million copies in Canada) and hit the top of album charts internationally for over a year; as well, he will perform many of Supertramp’s other hit songs such as “Give A Little Bit”, “Dreamer” and “School”. Tickets for the show start at $59.50, as well, a limited quantity of both VIP Meet & Greet and Soundcheck packages are available for sale. To purchase tickets, go to www.placedesarts.com.

*** A snowstorm is about to hit the St. Denis Theatre this spring, as famed Russian clown Slava Polunin makes his sixth visit to Montreal in 21 years with his highly-acclaimed show

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By Stuart Nulman mtltimes.ca

***

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Eyesore or Necessity? 3551 boul. St. Charles, Suite #547, Kirkland, Quebec, H9H 3C4

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ou either love them or you hate them. Popularly known as a 'Tempo' - the poly tarp covered, temporary structures pop up in driveways not long before the winter season starts, becoming a topic of conversation each year, and this year the conversation is proportional to the extreme weather we are having. During the winter, people fortunate enough to park their cars inside garages still have a driveway to contend with and tempos certainly make it easier for them to get going - especially if one cannot afford a snow removal service. Having your own snow blower can help, but that still takes up precious time, often in bone-chilling

temperatures and does little in icy conditions. For those without garages, tempos could be a great stress saver, especially for the elderly and people with mobility issues. Nonetheless, some still see the shelters as major eyesores and would rather have them banned altogether. Tempos are really not esthetically pleasing, that's true - but neither are the piles of dirty snow, laced with salt and rocks, which many snow removal contractors blatantly dump against cars parked on the street, effectively imprisoning them. There are boroughs and municipalities in the Greater Montreal area where tempos are permitted, but there are plenty of areas, especially in the West Island, where

they are prohibited - including the municipalities of Beaconsfield, Dollard des Ormeaux, Pointe Claire, Kirkland and Baie D'urfee. They are allowed in the borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro and the municipalities of SteAnne-de-Bellevue and Dorval. In town, the municipality of Cote St. Luc and the boroughs of Saint-Laurent and VilleMarie do not permit them. Rationale for the bans include safety and crime prevention.The main concern is visibility, not only because of crime (people can easily hide inside one) but also due to safety issues concerning cars backing out and not being able to see pedestrians or other cars going by. But there has been a solution to that for years - tempos

Hudson, St. Lazare, Sennevil e, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Baie d’Urfe, Beaconsfield, Kirkland, Pte. Claire, D.D.O., Pier efonds, Roxboro, Dorval, Lachine, NDG, Vil e St-Laurent, Châteauguay, Cote St-Luc, Snowdon, Hampstead, Mtl-West, Westmount, Laval, Verdun, Lasalle, Montreal, St. Leonard, Anjou, Ahuntsic, Lit le Italy, Nuns’ Island

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come with windows. Another concern is the weight of snow or ice that can accumulate on top of them - if not well-maintained it could cause the structures to cave in, injuring or trapping someone underneath. A complaint often heard by those who would have them banned altogether is that 'they are ugly' and 'make the neighbourhood look bad' and in turn, lower property values. Upon first impression, driveways with tempos lined up in a row could reduce the attractiveness of a property for sale, lessening it's 'curb appeal' to a potential buyer. If your area does allow tempos, please consult your borough or munici-

pal bylaws concerning permits and rules that must be observed about installation, size, frame and load-bearing capacity - otherwise you may receive a hefty fine or even be forced to take it down. One way or another, winter is here to stay and with it comes snow, ice, freezing rain and pellets.Trying to get to work on time, dropping off children at daycare centres, trying to push a baby carriage or a wheelchair down a snow-packed, icy driveway will not get any easier. In fact, our winters are predicted to get even more challenging. What is your opinion? Are the shelters an eyesore or a necessity? Let us know your opion at: info@mtltimes.ca

(Wednesday at 5 p.m.) 514-951-3328 Managing Editor:

• Catherine Maisonneuve • Marco Giovanetti • Sergio Martinez • Bonnie Wurst • Stuart Nulman • Deborah Rankin • Martha Shannon • Helen (Eleni) Akrivos

SUBSCRIPTION General subscriptions in Canada: 1 year $150, 2 years $275 Subscription to the U.S. and outside North America:1 year $250 US All contents of this publication are sole property of The Montreal Times Newspaper. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily intended to reflect those of the publisher. Any reproduction in whole or in part and in print or in electronic form without express permission is strictly forbidden. Permission to reproduce selected editorial may be granted by contacting the publisher in writing.

A listing of local hills to regroup and warm-up after a few runs. Some of the sledding hills below also By John Symon offer sled rentals: 1) Beaver Lake (Mount ledding (tobogganing) Royal Park) 1260 Rememis a great family outing, brance Rd, Montreal, (514) especially with 872-8240 www.lemonyounger children. It is troyal.qc.ca (This hill also healthy, affordable and gen- features snow tubing and arerally found close by. A vari- tificial snowmaking) ety of fine sleds can be 2) Bois-de-Liesse Nature purchased at many Mon- Park; 3555 Douglas B. Floretreal-area stores, but you ani, Ville-St-Laurent, (514) can also just use big card- 280-6678 • www.ville.monboard boxes. To properly treal.qc.ca/parcs enjoy the activity, dress 3) Laval Nature Centre, yourself and kids warmly 901 Park Ave., Laval (450) under a windproof layer; the 662-4942 snow tends to infiltrate into 4) Longueuil Regional the tiniest gaps under cloth- Park, 1895 Adoncour St., ing. And while there are Longueuil, (450) 468-7617 • many sledding hills around www.sogep.ca Montreal, the ones below 5) Mont St. Hilaire Cengenerally have a heated tre, for Nature Conservabuilding, telephone, wash- tion, 422 des Moulins Rd., rooms, and a snack bar St-Hilaire, (450) 467-1755 • nearby. Such amenities are www.mcgill.ca/Biology/reoften appreciated by families search/msh with young kids who need 6) Murray Hill Park, (offi-

cially known as King George Park), Westmount Ave. and Murray Hill Ave., Westmount, (514) 989-5353 7) P. E.Trudeau Park, (formerly known as Centennial Park), Mackle Rd. and Stephen Leacock Ave., Côte St. Luc, (514) 485-6806 8) Pointe-aux-Prairies Nature Park, 12980 Gouin Blvd. E., Montreal, (514) 2806691 • www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/pa rcs 9) Oka Park, 2200 PaulSauvé, Oka, (450) 479-8337 10) Park Avenue (Mt. Royal Park) near the corner of Mt Royal.There is no large public building nearby, however, and you may need to go into restaurants or depanneurs to warm up afterward. On weekends through February 6, there is sledding in Parc Jean Drapeau as part of the Fete des Neiges celebrations. www.parcjeandrapeau.com

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Where to go sledding around Montreal

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Tom West

e often hear about the isolation of seniors. It is

By Deborah Rankin mtltimes.ca

also a constant refrain in the Anglophone community that Englishspeaking Quebecers don't have the ear of their governments. In the view of a good many in Montreal, Francois Legault's CAQ Government has shown itself to be particularly tone-deaf to the needs of cultural minorities. How much more so then, is the isolation of English-speaking seniors, when the vulnerabilities associated with aging play out against the backdrop of the politics of language? “One Voice", a coalition of groups representing Anglophone seniors aims to improve access to healthcare and decrease social isolation. The umbrella organization includes the Almage Senior Center, Contactivity, Extra Miles Senior Visiting Program, LaSalle D & D 50 +, NDG Boomer Café, NDG Senior Center, New Hope Senior Center, SASMAD, Seniors Action Quebec, St. Columba House, Ste. Antoine 50 + Senior Center, Volunteer West Island, West Island Citizen's Advocacy (WICA), and The Yellow Door. The groups have come together to share best practices and advocate for improved access to healthcare and services for Englishspeaking seniors. "We believe you can combat

• January 18, 2020

Chair Yoga at the LaSalle D & D 50 + Center

"One Voice" Coalition wants Healthcare & Services in English for Seniors isolation if you band together," Diane Doonan says. "We have workshops, we share best practices, and we invite guest speakers." Doonan has been an advocate for seniors for many years, running a seniors' center and setting up programs for the 50 + population. "It is my passion," she says. Doonan is currently Vice-President of the LaSalle D & D 50 + Centre which provides a wide range of activities for active seniors. While the center is located in the Borough of LaSalle in southwest Montreal its programs are open to everyone 50 years and over.

"Poverty and isolation go hand-in-hand," Doonan says. "If you live in poverty, you are at a much higher risk to have health problems." While it might be obvious that poverty increases health risks, this isn't necessarily apparent when seniors are financially secure. "Boredom can lead to serious health problems too." It is all a vicious cycle: isolation, poverty, and more health challenges. These compounding problems increase the risk of elder abuse leading in turn to premature death. Seniors who have lost a spouse are, particularly at risk, she

notes. It's not uncommon for them to withdraw from their circle of friends in the wake of the death of their life partner. So, outreach to seniors is a pressing concern and Anglophones must be reached in English. The One Voice Coalition was spearheaded by Catholic Action which operates under the auspices of the English-Speaking Catholic Council (ESCC). One Voice was formed at the behest of the Father Dowd Foundation which provides funding to many community groups in Greater Montreal. Catholic Action facilitates collaboration

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and provides resources to help combat isolation, poverty, and elder abuse, while providing food security, all with an accent on outreach to marginalized groups. "We have an expert pool. We use our gifts to serve our neighbors, and we serve all," says Catholic Action's Executive Director Judy Wong. "Last year, I did a lot of work with Muslims." In 2019 the CAQ Government brought in legislation prohibiting any person in a position of authority in the public sector from wearing religious garb or religious symbols on the job. This measure has

hit Muslim women who wear the hijab pretty hard, effectively preventing them from working at their chosen profession if they choose to maintain the outward signs of their religious identity. Many of the CAQ's critics believe that the animus towards religious minorities is anchored in a broader disregard for the English-speaking population, located primarily in the Montreal region where it doesn't have any real support and nothing to lose politically from exclusionary policies. Improving access to services for Englishspeaking seniors is always a top priority for the coalition, be it healthcare, social services, recreation, or legal services. In the wake of the passage of Bill 21 last year, One Voice has heightened its focus on legal services.The Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), an Englishrights advocacy organization, will be making a presentation to the coalition about the right to receive legal services in English. "We need access to justice in English," Wong says. Wong says that older Anglophones find navigating the maze of government services particularly daunting. "They are the least bilingual," she says. Something as simple as obtaining information over the phone is no mean feat. "You dial 1 for English, you still get French.You have to go a couple of levels before you get English." Doonan says that the access plan to healthcare isn't even available in English. Plans are in motion to draw up a letter to the Regional Access Committee on Healthcare to address these pressing concerns.

Bar-B-Barn - Legendary chicken & ribs brings back over 50 years of Memories

om McQueen has been associated with the Bar-BBarn for so long he's practically part of the furniture. When I ask the affable manager how long he's been at the iconic establishment celebrating its

By Deborah Rankin mtltimes.ca 50th anniversary this year - it opened in April 1967 just before Expo 67 - he chuckles and returns my question with one of his own, "On or off the books?" Co-owner with father and son Manny and Dalton Barnoff McQueen first met the pair on the golf course in Candiac while he was working as a caddy as a mere lad of 8

1/2 years old. The fatherless youngster from the south shore was drawn to the father-son duo and they to him.They sent him to caddy school to learn how to ply his trade and he caddied for them until he was 15. At this point Manny said to him, "Enough, enough - time to get a real job and come work for us." Manny brought him back to the Bar-B-Barn on Guy Street and said, "This is your future." McQueen complied with his mentor's request to come work for the family business and the rest is history. He had the usual apprenticeship in the restaurant & hotel industry starting off as a busboy - he quit the first night - but then went back shortly after. "I learned the whole kitchen, how to be a butcher, eventually becoming a waiter and bartender." On the day he turned 21 he became a manager. McQueen laughs again when he thinks back to those days. "I'm still working here 6 days a week." "I had wanted to be a CPA but never pursued it," he says with no trace

The cozy atmosphere is still the same at both locations of the Bar B Barn of regret. Two of my sons are CPAs," he adds matter-of-factly. McQueen waxes euphoric when he

reminisces about the heyday of the Bar-B-Barn when the customers were an A-list of`Who's Who in

politics, media, and sports. "Back in the day, the 70's, the press - The Gazette, The Montreal Star - all

Photo:Val Provost

those guys were at the bar.The Expos, the Als, the Habs came before and after the game."

Montrealâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite place for Spare-Ribs and Chicken

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Bar B Barn - Montreal landmark

Bar B Barn mouth watering Chicken and Ribs Mini combo Photo:Val Provost CKGM Radio personality Ralph "The Birdman" Lockwood had a lot to do with bringing in the crowd to the chicken & ribs eatery downtown. People who listened to his show in the 1970's will recall Lockwood saying on air, "Come join me at the BarB-Barn." This was when he wasn't asking his trademark question, "How's your bird?" "He was there every day," McQueen says. The barn-style restaurant was also a favorite of Top 40 Radio DJ Marc "Mais Oui" Denis the bilingual voice of Montreal's airwaves for decades. The `"Bar-B" as it was affectionately known by many Montrealers was the

going like the Energizer Bunny." Political heavyweights Brian Mulroney and René Lévesque were regular customers too. Lévesque lived just up the street and would come by to get his "fix" of chicken and ribs around 11:30 am. "Every Saturday morning he would walk here - no security. He had a great character. He was funny. He had a political character which was rough but generally, he was nice." Lévesque had one bad habit that is barely tolerated today - he smoked. In those days you could smoke in bars and restaurants. "He smoked like a chimney," McQueen says with a wry smile.

had the white limousine and lots of gold bling and an entourage," McQueen says. Then there was David Joyner - not exactly a household name - but known and adored by millions of children as Barney the Dinosaur. "He would sign autographs both in and out of costume," McQueen says laughing.

Bar-B crew. Manny & Dalton Barnoff, Bob Gainey, and Tom McQueen became fishing buddies and would go on fishing trips up north. "He was a very, very classy man," McQueen says of "Le Capitaine" of the Montreal Canadiens. Gary Carter of the Montreal Expos would also become a personal friend. A framed autographed glossy photo of him hangs on the walls of the rustic establishment along with countless others, a testament to the landmark eatery's reputation far and wide for friendly service and mouthwatering chicken and rib combos. "Bell Canada and CN were big clients in the 80's," McQueen says. By this time a second Bar-BBarn was open for business on Sources Blvd. in DDO. Both barbeque restaurants are still going strong. Three times per year the hands-on McQueen makes personal deliveries of vacuumpacked meats all the way to the Northwest Territo-

Photo:Val Provost

meet-up location pre/post-game. "We would rent city buses to take people to and from the football games," McQueen says. Such was the dedication of the Bar-B's own 'team' that they made sure the fans made it to home field to cheer on the Alouettes. One of the "boys" who frequented the Bar-BBarn was Gazette journalist and bon vivant Nick Auf der Maur. "He was a fixture at the bar," McQueen says. "Never a dull moment - he always had stories. He was another Ralph. He would keep

Manny Barnoff was a class act himself sending racks of ribs to prisons. In the early years Barnoff had a ventilation company which took him down south where he developed a taste for ribs. He started to experiment with different recipes in his mother's kitchen bePhoto:Val Provost fore he opened the Bar-BThe "best ever" figure to Barn. One day he said to cross the Bar-B-Barn's McQueen, "I think I've got threshold was Brian Mul- it." He didn't have a roney. He would send the kitchen at the restaurant RCMP hours before to yet so he cooked at his stake out the place. Then mother's place transportBrian and Mila would ing the ribs and chicken in come in with their own his LTD Station wagon security and they would downtown. "He worked have dinner. Mulroney still hard for his success," Mccame after he was no Queen says. It would belonger Prime Minister al- come a great business. though Lévesque didn't "The city was buzzing," come by much once he McQueen explains. Busimoved to Nun's Island. ness was so good that Other notables graced one day Manny got out of the premises like the his car in the middle of a boxer Sugar Ray Leonard snowstorm and started in the early 80's. Sugar Ray handing out combos. Hockey legend Bob was a class act. "Oh my god, he was so classy. He Gainey was a friend of the

Bar B Barn Downtown 1201 rue Guy Montréal H3H 2K5 514-931-3811

ries travelling by Air Inuit with his own security. Now that is service. He wouldn't have it any other way. McQueen isn't the only loyal member of the Bar-B-Barn family. "My barmaid just retired. She was 76 when she retired," McQueen says with evident pride. "I wouldn't change anything," he says. He hears all the time from young people, families who have moved away about how much they miss the Bar-BBarn. As soon as they come back to Montreal they'll say, "I haven't been here for a while, but the first thing I've got to do is come to the Bar-B-Barn." McQueen attributes the Bar-B's enduring brand and loyal clientele to the recipes which have stayed the same from "Day 1" along with the decor. His motto: keep smiling. "I still think I have a good 20 more years in me," he says.

Photo:Val Provost

Bar B Barn West Island

300 Sources Blvd. Pointe-Claire H9B 1Z7 514-683-0225

www.barbbarn.ca

• January 18, 2020

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Best White wines for winter

es winter is here however that does not mean you can’t enjoy white wine.You say, time to bring the reds and lock the white wine to the dusty back of your cellar, right? This way of thinking has never made much sense to me. Look at some of the food we eat at this time of year. Rich, creamy sauces, savory poultry and even

they lack the structure and muscular tannins of big reds, they have in common the robustness, whether in the form of sweetness, acidity, spiciness or other aspects of a red wine. Here are five winter whites recommendations for this week: Here are a few of my favourite examples of perfect white wines for a winter evening:

with hints of white nectarines, marzipan and Nuances of ripe green hazelnut butter. Lots of for under pepper with lime peel quality and dry oregano. $25.00. Pairing well Medium body with a with roasted chicken snappy acidity and bitHumo Blanco Sauviter quinine finale. Pairgnon Blanc Edicion ing well with roasted Limitada 2017. SAQ # white fish or seafood. 13727903, $18.70 # 13638249. $19.00

This is the best Sauvignon Blanc from Chile

that I have ever tasted. A cross between a Sancerre and a New Zealand Sauvignon. Beautiful nose displaying tropical fruit nuances of pineapple, passion fruit and fresh lime. Elegant with a wonderful acidity with a persistent long finale. Pairs well with smoked salmon salad with halzenuts and spinach.

Bernard Series Chenin blanc vieilles vignes 2017. SAQ # 11154911. $26.00

By Marco Giovanetti mtltimes.ca red meat, flavourful cheeses, root vegetables and soups – these often go well with white than red wine. Also you’ll enjoy longer drinking a chilled white wine by the fire than a robust red. Don't know where to start?. Explore the wine regions of northern Europe for inspiration. For many moons, northern France, northern Italy, Germany and Austria have been crafting delicious wines intended for all year long. If you are daydreaming about summer temperatures, look into Mediterranean whites as well. These wines feel right to me with the January temperatures. While 10

Round with opulent aromas of white peach, nectarines complemented by white licorice and dried jasmine leaves. Pairing well Ripe aromas of peach with seafood cream in conserves, nougat. pastas Fruit driven with delicate vegetal undertones. Medium to long finale. Pairing well with cream based vegetable soups Diamond Sauvignon Blanc Coppola 2016. SAQ # 13640154 $24.80

Deloach Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2016. SAQ # 00927061, $24.65 Monemvasia Winery Kydonitsa 2017. SAQ

This Sonoma Chardonnay has a lovely creamy texture www.mtltimes.ca

January 18, 2020 •

A very successful Holiday period he end of the year is always a crucial period at the Sun Youth Organization: a lot of effort is invested by its faithful staff, volunteers, collaborators and donors to ensure that underprivileged families can enjoy the Holidays; it is also the time when the charity collects the largest part of its resources to pursue its activities throughout the next year. December started very well with the 19th edition of the Grande guignolée des médias, which raised more than $3.6 million, to be shared between the food banks of the province. From that total, $433,306 was collected in Greater Montreal, plus an additional equivalent of 3,888 grocery bags in food donations. All this was made possible thanks to the help of the many volunteers who participated in the street collect on December 5th and mostly, to the outstanding generosity of Quebecers.

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante and Sun Youth’s co-founder Sid Stevens A group of volunteers during the Christmas basket distribution Between December 10 and 23, Sun Youth also held its annual Christmas basket distribution. This year again, the operation was a huge success: more than 4,600 families (approximately 10,000 people) received a Christmas basket, and about 5,000 children got toys. Many companies lent a hand for the preparation and distribution of the baskets: Sun Youth wishes to thank the employees

from Computer Shares, Desjardins, TD Bank, IQVIA, Société de Police de l’agglomération de Longueuil, Fusion MD, National Bank of Canada, Sonder, Air Canada, State Street, Mad Science, Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal, the Montreal Parking Agents, Damotech, Snell, Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal, Post Media, Prometour, Pepsico, Solutions Stat, Sûreté du Québec,

Prometour, Pepsico and Solutions Stat for their exceptional help. Many politicians also paid a visit and helped, namely Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, Ministers Lionel Carmant and Steven Guilbault and Deputy Dominique Anglade. From December 19 to 22, Sun Youth also had its 39th annual Holiday Classic Basketball Tournament, an elite event which reunited the best Canadian basketball teams. $9,500

was raised through the tournament, which will be used to finance the organization’s basketball program. The on-site non-perishable food collection went to the Christmas Baskets. Congratulations to the Canada Topflight Academy (Ottawa) for winning the tournament, and to the Sun Youth Hornets, who excelled on the court! Sun Youth is very proud of what it has accomplished during the Holiday period, and none of it would have been possible without

the help of its precious staff, volunteers and donors: the organization extends its most sincere thanks to everyone who gave time or made material or money donations. Unfortunately, poverty doesn’t end on January 1st and Sun Youth always need new resources to fight it. It hopes it can count on your cooperation and generosity all through 2020 to pursue its mission of giving and caring. For more details on how you can help, visit sunyouthorg.com

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Amazing Angus beef hamburgers (Picture is totally an exaggeration, but freshness isn’t)

All You Can Eat Fries!

• January 18, 2020

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Top 10 Movies of the Decade have been an avid movie watcher and moviegoer since the age of seven. And

By Stuart Nulman mtltimes.ca while I was cutting my cinematic teeth watching classic re-releases and brand new animated and live action features from the Disney studios during my early years, somehow I found a spot to watch and appreciate classic black-and-white comedies and horror movies (especially the Three Stooges and Universal horror flicks), which I was exposed to every Saturday afternoon at the old Lucerne Theatre on Decarie Boulevard in Ville St. Laurent during the late 60s and early 70s. And as I grew into my teen years, my taste in movies shifted from B-movies to Charlie Chaplin, the Marx Brothers, Humphrey Bogart and James Bond; however, I never ruled out going with friends to theatres, multiplexes and drive-ins to catch the latest box office hits (I even remember sneaking into the Kent Theatre in NDG to catch “Jaws” in the summer of 1975, when I was only 12). And my love for the movies has never faded away; I still enjoy watching the classics on TCM (Turner Classic Movies), the recent releases on the Movie Network,

and catch a new release or two at a downtown or suburban multiplex (with much more comfortable seating, I might add). And although my heart is still with those classic black & white movies, I still haven’t ruled out catching the latest hits (and with the high price of movie tickets these days, I try to avoid as many duds as possible). So, without further ado, here are my 10 favorite movies of this past decade.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens - After a somewhat lackluster reception to the Star Wars prequel trilogy (Episodes I, II and III … remember Jar Jar Binks?), the storied sci fi franchise got itself a major boost around 2015 thanks to two things: first, the acquisition of the Lucasfilm empire by Disney, and the introduction of a new trilogy that for many Star Wars fans was a breath of fresh air. It was a meeting of the old and the new in which the torch (or should I say light sabre) was passed to a new generation of rebels fighting this intergalactic evil empire (magnificently led by newcomer Daisy Ridley as Rae, the scavenger turned Jedi knight), which came to a spectacular conclusion with Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.

Skyfall - Back in 2012, James Bond, Secret Agent 007, marked his 50th anniversary in the movies in a grand scale with “Skyfall”. This was the third 007 vehicle for Daniel Craig, and so far, it’s the best one he has done (with “Casino Royale” coming a close second). It had everything you could want in a Bond movie: plenty of non-stop action, exotic locales, memorable villains (Javier Bardem as Silva), return of some old favorites (when the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger was unveiled, the audience in the theatre cheered), some new gadgets, a fair share of Bond girls, and an unforgettable theme song that was sung by Adele (which won a much-deserved Oscar for Best Original Song). This was one movie in which James Bond certainly earned his license to kill.

Fahrenheit 11/9 - Once again, controversial filmmaker Michael Moore used his doggedly determined method of muckraking journalism (with the camera as his pen and paper) to give a harrowing look at how

Donald Trump and his cronies bitterly divided America following his much surprising win in the 2016 U.S presidential election. Through a lot of factual information, interviews and Moore’s down-home, but rather snide, commentary, we see how one man with no political experience managed to win the highest elected office in the U.S., and succeeded in making the American people more divided since the Civil War era. And like any of his previous documentaries, Moore manages to incorporate the plight of his hometown of Flint, Michigan without any diversion from the purpose of the narrative. And if you think Michael Moore is blowing a lot of pre-fabricated hot air, just remember that in the midst of the 2016 campaign, it was Moore who boldly predicted that Trump would win the election. Don’t say you haven’t been warned.

The Artist - After being obsolete for over 80 years, silent movies made a brief, but memorable comeback with “The Artist” in 2011. It starred Jean Dujardin, a movie star in his own right in France, as George Valentine, a swashbuckling silent era movie star, circa 1928. He meets a young woman who is a dancer but aspires to be a movie star just like Mr. Valentine; and as her career in motion pictures takes off, George Valentine’s career experiences a gradual, almost tragic decline. This is a terrific tribute to the great movies of the silent era, when they used to make movies like they don’t do any-

more today. Every aspect of a typical silent movie is faithfully reproduced, from the black & white cinematography, to the music, to the title cards that took the place of actual spoken dialogue. And look out for John Goodman, who does a fine performance in a supporting role as Al Zimmer, the typical cigar-chomping studio mogul of Hollywood’s golden age.

Life, Itself - This is the perfect companion piece to the late Roger Ebert’s 2011 memoir of the same name. In words, pictures and video clips, it brings Ebert’s book to life with the same sense of intelligence and introspection.The premise of the documentary is the final years of Ebert’s life, as he undergoes countless treatments, difficulties and pitfalls as he tries to recover from a form of cancer that robbed him of his jaw and speech (but fortunately, not his ability to watch and write about movies). And watch out for the video outtakes that Ebert and the late Gene Siskel did of promos for their syndicated movie review program, which starkly portrays the love-hate relationship these two movie critics had for each other during their three decades in the balcony.

The Revenant - This is a great example of what an actor would go through to pull off a memorable performance. Robert De Niro

has done this several times. And in this 2015 release, it’s Leonardo Di Caprio’s turn. It takes place in the American wilderness in 1823, as Di Caprio, who portrays the veteran leader of a fur trapping expedition, is doublecrossed by a jealous rival in his expedition party, and is left for dead in the middle of nowhere. Somehow, he survives the attack (not to mention a savage grizzly bear attack as well), and uses his wit and survival skills to trudge his way through an unforgiving wilderness during a brutally cold winter to find that treacherous hunter and exact his vengeance upon him. Di Caprio did most of his own stunts that would have killed any other mortal, but risking personal injury or even worse for this movie turned into THE performance of his career, as well as winning a Best Actor Oscar for his almost superhuman efforts on this film.

Spotlight - This 2015 Oscar winner for Best Picture to me ranks as one of the best journalism movies of all time, along with “All the President’s Men”, “The Post”, “His Girl Friday” and the underrated 1952 Humphrey Bogart drama “Deadline U.S.A.”. It retells the true story of how the members of the Boston Globe’s Spotlight investigative unit used their journalistic skills to uncover the Boston Archdiocese’s dirty dark secret of rampant sexual abuse. With a wonderful cast led by Michael Keaton, “Spotlight” was almost like a journalism textbook within a movie on how to get the story the old school way.

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The best movies of 2019 he past year has goneg, and as usual, we have seen the release

By Sergio Martinez mtltimes.ca

these past weeks of several blockbusters to impress viewers and especially, those deciding on the main awards for these twelve months of movies on the screen. With some qualifications to take into account when we say "screen": are we talking about the big ones in the many multiplexes in

town or the small (although increasing size in recent decades) screen of our TV set at home? We have to ask this question after seeing at least two important films ("The Irishman" and "Marriage Stories") being released in theatres for a short period –to be eligible for Oscar nominations– but then are now only available on Netflix. And the best this year In the opinion of this critic, the best ten films of 2019 are, in ascending order: 10: "Abominable" (USA-China). Director: Jill Culton.Voices: Chloe Bennet, Tenzing Norgay Trainor, Albert Tsai, Eddie Izzard. An animation movie full of action, with an interesting message, and great artwork. 9: "Richard Jewell" (USA). Director: Clint Eastwood. Cast: Paul

Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Brandon Stanley, Ryan Boz. The most recent film by Eastwood explores, in a penetrating way, the case of a man falsely accused by the media and the FBI in the bomb at-

Top 10 Movies of the Decade cont’d

soon-to-be released 1918 to search, find and biopic of the Bee Gees. destroy Ares the God of War.

Bohemian Rhapsody The biopic of legendary rock stars can either be really good (“Backbeat”, “La Bamba”) or really bad (“The Doors”). But no matter what controversy it garnered, ”Bohemian Rhapsody”, the biopic of the 70s and 80s rock group Queen and its late legendary lead singer Freddie Mercury, blew away the genre thanks to one thing and one thing only: the remarkable performance of Rami Malik in the lead. His resemblance to Mercury is so uncanny, yet he got down every onstage gesture and mannerism to a “T”, that you would think Mercury was resurrected and came back to life (check out the YouTube video that does a side-by-side comparison to Queen’s actual performance at Live Aid in 1985 and its recreation in the movie). It earned Malik a well-deserved Best Actor Oscar and sparked a new interest in rock star biopics, such as last year’s “Rocketman” and a • January 18, 2020

Wonder Woman - Four years ago, Gal Gadot was basically an unknown actress who previously represented Israel at the Miss Universe pageant. That all changed when she put on the tights and took up the sword to portray the legendary DC Comics amazon heroine Wonder Woman. Thanks to a brief appearance in a Batman/Superman movie, it lead to Gadot starring as Wonder Woman in her own movie.The end result: it became a huge commercial and critical success (and a sequel will be released this summer) and turned the once unknown Gal Gadot into an international superstar. Gadot brought a great deal of grit, bravery and a degree of naivete to the role of Diana Prince/Wonder Woman that was both inspiring and charming, as she crossed from her Amazon world into the trenches of France circa

The King’s Speech - I’ll tell you this. The British certainly know how to use the movies as an effective way to retell its long history to new generations of audiences, and this 2010 Oscar winner is no exception. This time it focuses on the future King George VI of England (played to perfection by Colin Firth), as he tries to overcome his lifelong speech impediment, as he is about to ascend the throne in 1936-37. Enlisted for this quest is an unorthodox, yet effective, London speech therapist (also played to perfection by Geoffrey Rush). This is not just the story of the friendship that develops between student and teacher, but also brings out a hidden piece of British history of how the overcoming of a future king’s stammering practically saved England as the nation and its empire approached a time of great crisis.

tempt during the 1996 Olympics. 8: "Joker" (USA). Director: Todd Phillips. Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy. The making of one of the most dreaded villains set in a kind of elaborate urban setting where there is no place for compassion. Great cinematography, but lots of violence too. 7: "The Irishman" (USA). Director: Martin Scorsese. Cast: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel. Narrated by an ageing Frank Sheeran (De Niro), the movie takes a new approach at the mysterious disappearance of Jim Hoffa (Pacino). Great acting by these veteran stars.This a three-hour film, now only available through Netflix. 6: "Antigone" (Canada). Director: Sophie Deraspe. Cast: Nahema Ricci, Antoine Desrochers, Rawad ElZein. A very impressive adaptation of Sophocles' drama to a present-day situation in

Montreal, with references to a real unfortunate episode in which a young immigrant was shot by the police. 5: "Pain and Glory" (Spain). Director: Pedro Almodovar. Cast: Antonio Banderas,Asier Etxeandia, Penelope Cruz, Leonardo Sbaraglia. According to Time magazine the best film of 2019. Great acting by Banderas in this autobiographical piece of the celebrated Spanish director. 4: "Judy" (USA-UK). Director: Rupert Goold. Cast: Renée Zellweger, Jessie Buckley, Finn Wittrock, Rufus Sewell. The biopic of Judy Garland is not only a tribute to the great actress, but an indictment of the treatment Hollywood studios gave to their stars in those days when they dominated the industry. 3: "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" (USA). Director: Marielle Heller. Cast: Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Chris Cooper, Susan Kelechi Watson.A delightful story in which Mr. Rogers is not the

real focus of the story, but a journalist who was assigned to interview the TV personality and ended up befriending him. We see Mr. Rogers throughout his interaction with the troubled interviewer. 2: "Knives Out' (USA). Director: Rian Johnson. Cast: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis. Those who love a good thriller will be delighted with the ingenious plot of this movie. There are many twists to the story as well making it more exciting. 1: "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" (USA). Director: Quentin Tarantino. Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Emile Hirsch. A movie that entertains and at the same time makes fun of Hollywood, the cigarette industry, martial arts actor Jackie Chan (which infuriated China), and even the case of a gruesome crime. The best film of 2019.

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f the almost 5 million sen- ahead so you have an idea what your iors age 65 and older in daily schedule can be like. Canada, 7.1% live in care facilities. Of this amount, 4.5% 6. Allow as much time as possible before the move to prepare. If required; hire a Senior Move Manager By Matt Del Vecchio or downsizing company to help with mtltimes.ca the coordination.

live in nursing homes, chronic care, or long-term care hospitals and 2.6% live in residences for seniors. Wherever you’re loved one decides to go, moving into a retirement home or senior community can be stressful. Below are 10 tips to help with the transition.

7. Meet with the move-in coordinator. They have done this many times and may have additional advice or help. They can help decide what will come from home and where it can be placed in the new apartment.

8. Do not schedule the move-in for the weekend; try to move during the 1. Involve your loved one in the se- week when the community is fully lection process if possible. Listen to staffed. their concerns and fears and then address them. Let them know they are 9. Inquire about a “Be Our Guest” NOT losing control. program. Some communities provide furnished rooms for a few days at no 2. Try to make sure everyone in the charge to help the future resident family is doing what is best for the get acclimated. loved one. 10. Be sure to complete the res3. Choose a senior community that ident history questionnaires before is a good match based on the sen- moving in as it helps the staff in the ior’s needs and location. Try to pick building become even more involved a place that nurtures what is impor- with the new resident if they already tant to them; be it hobby, services or know their history, likes and dislikes. social. When there is a move into a re4. Make random visits to the retire- tirement home, the lack of familiarity ment home at various times of the with both the environment and the day before the move to meet resi- other residents can be quite intimidents and staff as well as try the food dating. Very often, family members and some of the activities offered. can feel guilty about placing loved ones into a senior residence.The re5. Walk the building to get a feel for ality is that a move will most likely be where everything is before you move for the best. and review activity schedules to plan Please see ad page 24

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January 18, 2020 •

ccording to last year’s Canadian Infrastructure Report Card,

By Stuart Nulman mtltimes.ca one in three recreational or cultural facilities in Canada will require much needed investment within the next 10 years; however, the one type of facility with poor or very poor conditions, or in fair condition but needs investment, is ice arenas. That’s where the Kraft Hockeyville program comes in. Since its establishment 13 years ago, the program has managed to award over $3.5 million to 81 communities across the country, so that they can rally together and upgrade their respective local hockey arenas that are in need of repair and refurbishment. A partnership between Kraft Heinz, the NHL and the NHLPA, Kraft Hockeyville also brings professional hockey in touch with the community at large by holding 13 NHL pre-season games in eight provinces since 2006. From now until February 9, nominations are being accepted from towns and cities across Canada in order to be this year’s Kraft Hockeyville, which will bring $250,000 worth of arena upgrades, as well as the opportunity of hosting an NHL preseason game.Also, three additional community finalists will receive $25,000 each towards arena upgrades; and on top of that, the grand prize winner and the three other finalists will receive $10,000 each towards the purchase of brand new hockey equipment for their respective minor hockey programs, courtesy of the NHLPA Goals & Dreams Fund. So if you think your community deserves to be named as the 2020 Kraft Hockeyville, go to www.krafthockeyville.c a for more information and complete contest rules. *** We’re into the home • January 18, 2020

Make your community a Kraft Hockeyville

stretch of the Centaur Theatre’s 23rd annual Wildside Festival. And after catching five of the six shows that comprised its main line-up, I can truly say that these shows really lived up to the festival’s mission of presenting stage shows that truly test and break the boundaries of what theatre usually has to offer. And if you like to make some entertainment plans for later this week, most of the Wildside shows will still be playing until January 18. Here are some capsule reviews of the Wildside shows that I experienced. “Multiple Organism”, winner of the Centaur Theatre Prize for best English production at last year’s Montreal Fringe Festival, is quite a trippy show, to say the least. Using three sources of image projection (including two high school-type overhead projectors), paper and cardboard cutouts, paints and markers, and common household objects, this show is a boundary-bursting comedy that deals with body image, how the human body is perceived by others with plenty of Rabellaisian scabrous humour and even an examination into the mating rituals of toothbrushes. Another trippy show is “Hollow Mountain”, which is presented by the Toronto-based troupe Rock Bottom Movement.This piece of dance theatre features five friends who explore the rocky interior of a mountain range to reveal their respective

rocky psyches through a series of odd, absurd dances, bizarre songs, along with some demonic possession and self-mutilation added to the mix. Just watch out for Lulu! This year, for the very first time, the Wildside Festival goes beyond the boundaries of the Centaur Theatre to the La Chapelle theatre, located at 3700 St. Dominique. The Cabal Theatre group, whose production “Tragic Queens” was one of the major hits of the 2018 Wildside Festival, returns with a show that is almost like an post-apocalyptic version of “Frozen”. Called “Chattermarks”, it takes place in the endless cold hell of an Antarctic wasteland after a destructive war comes to an end and the spoils have to be divided up between two estranged sisters and a dissolving paramilitary unit that fought in the war. This is a deep, dystopia-type play that addresses the issue of the collateral damage that a war-torn world can be, especially the sacrifices one has to endure in order to survive, which is boldly represented by Alexandra Petrachuk’s searing performance. Another Montreal Fringe Festival highlight from last year that has been remounted for the Wildside Festival is Sarah Segal-Lazar’s “Don’t Read the Comments”. Set up like an actual TV talk show, “Comments” features a panel of three Felliniesque clown/bouffant

participants who give their outrageous takes and comments on what are the grey areas when it comes to the issues of sexual encounters and sexual consent. Looking and sounding practically too surreal and way out to be true, the show is tempered with a cold splash of reality, as a sexual assault victim appears on the show and recounts in graphic detail her harrowing ordeal during a backpacking tour of Europe. As well, a talkback session takes place following each performance. Perhaps THE highlight of this year’s festival is “Her Songs, My Story”, Michelle Sweeney’s autobiographical solo show which also doubles as a tribute to the life and music of the late Aretha Franklin, not to mention a highly-spirited gospel concert. Sweeney (who is accompanied by a live three-piece band) recounts her difficult upbringing in Cleveland, and how church and

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music (especially that of the Queen of Soul) gave her the right direction to help her see through her share of love, loss and redemption. And there is so much energy that is transmitted by Ms. Sweeney, that you will be singing and dancing in the aisles before the hour is up. And according to an inside source, “Her Songs, My Story” will soon be worked on towards expanding it for a future remount. For more information about the Wildside Festival, go to www.centaurtheatre.com. *** The idea of kindness and being kind towards one another is explored through the discipline of dance, as MAI (Montreals, arts interculturels) and Danse-Cite will present George Stamos’ choreography production “One Kind Favor” at the MAI, located at 3680 Jeanne Mance, from January 21-25. Performed by Stamos, along with Karla Etienne and Rad-

wan Ghazi Moumneh, the show is an exploration of how kindness can be embodied and practiced with grace or with failure despite good intentions; it’s a show of appreciation for the multiplicity that lives within society at large and within us as individual people.Ticket prices are $28, $22 with the special show discount, $16 for groups of 10 people or more, as well as kids 14 years of age and under, and free for accompanying persons for spectators with a handicap. To purchase tickets, go to w w w . m - a i.qc.ca/en/box-office, or call 514-982-3386. *** To discover more about how the art of tattooing has been a tradition with Indigenous peoples from around the globe for centuries, then tune in to the second season of the documentary series “Skindigenous”, which will have a 13-episode run on APTN starting January 21. Produced by the award-winning Nish Media company based out of the OttawaGatineau region, “Skindigenous” will explore the art of Indigenous tattooing by visiting tattoo artists in LeBret, Saskatchewan; Nimkii in Northern Ontario; Haida Gwaii, B.C.; Iqualiut, Nunavut; New Mexico; Los Angeles; Amsterdam; India; Taiwan; Tunisia; New Zealand; and Kahnawake, where Kanen’to:kon Hemlock has been reviving the lost tattooing traditions of the area, and even invites viewers to a longhouse where the first tattooing in 300 years will take place. For more information about the series, go to www.skindigenous.tv.

Top 10 favorite books of the decade his year marks the 40th anniversary of when I started to read

By Stuart Nulman mtltimes.ca

books and then write reviews about them (the first book that I wrote a review for was Northern Magus, Richard Gwyn’s best selling biography of Pierre Trudeau, which appeared in the pages of Vanier College’s student newspaper “The End” in the fall of 1980). Since then, I have read and reviewed a ton of new book releases for a number of publications, including The Suburban, The Maritime Edit, The

Weekly Herald and since 2008, the Montreal Times, not to mention hosting my own “Book Banter” review segment on CJAD’s “Holder Overnight” program for 19 years, and Peter Anthony Holder’s “The Stuph File Program” podcast for the past decade. And through so many literary and publishing trends, good and bad books, literary blockbusters and forgettable duds, my passion for

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reading and talking about books has not subsided. It’s always difficult when people ask me what is my favorite book of all time, because I have been exposed to so many good and enjoyable tomes throughout my lifetime; however, it’s made a little bit easier when I look back every January to decide what were my favorite books of the past year (I usually compile my list in midDecember, and it takes me a matter of minutes to round up my top 10). This year, as we begin a new decade, I was asked to compile a list of my top 10 books of the 2010s; believe me, there were no shortage of memorable titles to choose from the 500odd books I read over the past 10 years, and the end result is what you are about to read below (and don’t worry, there are no “50 Shades” books included in my list). So, without further ado, here are my 10 favorite books of this past decade. Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff/Fear by Bob Woodward. - I haven’t seen an American President who has been the subject of a plethora of books (whether they were written by journalists or insiders, both favorable or critical in tone) before the completion of their first term; not even Richard Nixon got that literary treatment until the Watergate Scandal broke wide open early in his second term. But if you are not a fan of Mr. Trump and want to know what really went on within the corridors of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue under his watch, these two books (which quickly became runaway best sellers) should be read in tandem. Michael Wolff wrote his account as a sort-of accidental insider, in which he plopped himself in the middle of the White House undisturbed and unnoticed by any staffer; Bob Woodward, on the other hand, drew his inside account the way he penned his other presidential accounts since All the President’s Men … by having access to countless documentation and conducting interviews with hundreds of

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sources. So whether you read one or both books, the impression garnered is the same: the Trump White House is one messy administration. The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Passage of Power by Robert A. Caro - This was the fourth volume of Robert A. Caro’s epic five-volume biography of the 36th President of the United States. This volume covered the period between 1960 and 1964, which focused on Johnson’s sort-of “wilderness” period as Vice-President during the Kennedy administration (in which he was maliciously referred to as “Rufus Cornpone” behind his back by some of the members of the JFK cabinet), to his immediate ascent to the presidency as a result of the Kennedy assassination, to his commitment to continue Kennedy’s legacy during the early months of his administration leading up to the 1964 presidential election. This is the art of biography at its best. 11/22/63 by Stephen King - Next to his Robert Hodges mystery-thriller trilogy (which includes the excellent Mr. Mercedes), 11/22/63 is probably the best book written by King during this decade. It’s the story of a man from Maine who somewhat gets the ability to travel back through time, uses that power to set himself in Dallas on November 22, 1963 and manages to avert the assassination of John F. Kennedy during his fateful visit to that city. It’s a brick of a book, yet the narrative flows so smoothly that you can race through it in a couple of sittings. What makes this experiment in historical “what-if” so fascinating is that King examines what the world would have been like had Kennedy survived, and it’s not always such a rosy picture. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris - Published in 2018, Heather Morris’ novel brings to light a story of the Holocaust that many knew about on the surface, but wasn’t aware of what was really involved when it came to the human side of the

story. Based on a true story, the book tells the story of Lale Sokolov, a Jew from Slovakia who is deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1942. Because of his ability to speak many languages, the Nazis give him the task of being the camp’s tattooist, in which he has to mark the arms of all incoming inmates of Auschwitz (who survive the terrifying selection process) with a permanent ink number. During one day of tattooing new arrivals, he marks the arm of a scared young woman who automatically captures his heart and through a great deal of dogged determination (which at times put his life at risk), wanted to find out more about this young woman who was more than just a number to him. This story of horror and survival is mesmerizing not only with the descriptions Morris constructs with how painful the tattooing process was in the concentration camps, but also how getting a rare high status job in a place like Auschwitz can make someone more resourceful with what little one had in order to survive one hellish day after another. A fine addition to the Holocaust literary canon, which spawned a sequel called Cilka’s Journey, which was published last year. Life, Itself by Roger Ebert - This very thoughtful memoir of the much-respected film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times (who became the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1975) and half of the “thumbs up” duo of Siskel and Ebert that made movie reviews more approachable to the public thanks to their very popular TV shows on PBS and syndication, the late Roger Ebert examines his life and career in an introspective manner, especially what motivated him into a life of journalism, how the movies inspired him, and what gave him the courage to continue as a battle with cancer cost him his jaw and ability to speak. This book gets an enthusiastic “two thumbs up” from me. continued on Page 18

January 18, 2020 •

My Favorite Books of 2019

or the past dozen years, the first Book Banter column of the new

By Stuart Nulman mtltimes.ca year always meant taking one last look at the year before and see which books stood out for me over the previous 12 months. This past year, like ever other year, I read an average of 50 books, so that it can be reviewed in the pages of The Montreal Times practically every week. Choosing a book to review is always done through a personal process of elimination, and that same process is done as I decided which were my favorite books of 2019. And what a memorable literary year this was. The Testaments, Margaret Atwood’s long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, was the most hotly anticipated fiction book this year, and earned her the prestigious Booker Prize. Another book that was riding high on the fiction lists was Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens’ literary debut that also became an Oprah Book Club selection. Two popular memoirs – Michelle Obama’s Becoming and Tara Westover’s Educated – entered their second year on hardcover nonfiction bestseller lists everywhere. And finally, Triggered, Donald Trump Junior’s diatribein-a-book, debuted on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list at #1, which prompted me to blurt out “you have to be f---ing kidding!” when I first saw the list; thankfully, the New York Times gave the book its version of the asterisk, denoting that Triggered had triggered its way to the top spot because of bulk, and not individual, sales. So, without further ado, here are my favorite books of 2019. Catch and Kill by • January 18, 2020

Ronen Farrow -This is my choice for book of the year. It was an enthralling behind-thescenes look at how Farrow became one of three journalists who broke the Harvey Weinstein scandal that destroyed his career as an “A”-list movie producer, brought about the “Me Too” movement, and cost Farrow his job at NBC News (but subsequently earned him a Pulitzer Prize when his story made it to the pages of the New Yorker). A must-read for the next generation of aspiring journalists. Makeup Tips from Auschwitz by Tommy Schnurmacher - This memoir by the much loved and widely-read veteran Montreal columnist and broadcaster had quite a curious origin. It all started in the summer of 2018 as a series of wildly popular Facebook posts that Tommy wrote on a semi-regular basis that chronicled his career as a journalist and broadcaster, as well as his life with his mother Olga, a strong-willed Holocaust survivor who was not at all afraid to speak her mind (and at one point, had a very close resemblance to Elizabeth Taylor, circa 1963). It’s a book filled with plenty of heart, humour and heartbreak. Working by Robert A. Caro - If you wanted to know how a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer plies his craft, then this was the book to read. In this compact hardcover, Caro gives his legions of fans a rare look at how he put together his epic biographies of New York City developer Robert Moses and former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson, not to mention all the trials and tribulations that went along with it. And as an added bonus, he offered a sneak preview of the eagerly-awaited fifth and final volume of his LBJ biography, which covers the period from 1964 until Johnson’s death in 1973. Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead - Whitehead’s novella proved that his Pulitzer Prize for his previous book The Underground Railroad was no fluke. It takes place in Florida during the late 50s and

early 60s during the dying days of Jim Crow and the rise of the Civil Rights Movement; in particular, it focuses on an orphanage for Black children that’s run like a prison. Based on a true story, this book shines the light on a dark, unknown aspect of Florida’s shady history that reads like a true American tragedy. Hollywood North by Michael Libling - The original host and creator of CJAD’s Trivia Show has been writing plenty of short stories since he left the airwaves over 25 years ago. In 2019, he finally published his first fulllength novel and what a literary treat it is. The narrative, which reads like a combination of a Stephen King novel and an episode of “Stranger Things”, takes place in Libling’s hometown of Trenton, Ontario during the early 1960s, in which the discovery of some rare silent film title cards unearths the town’s unknown (and dangerously secret) past as a Canadian film making capitol during the 1920s. Three Days at the Brink by Brett Baier - I may not be a regular viewer of Fox News Channel, but Brett Baier, one of its hosts, has made a name for himself to book readers for his passion for the history of the office of President of the United States, and has given it an interesting twist in two previous bestsellers that dealt with just three significant days in the presidencies of Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan. In his new “Three Days” book (the last of a proposed trilogy), Baier focuses on Franklin D. Roosevelt and the fateful three days he spent in Tehran, Iran in 1943 conferring with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin on when to carry out what will be the D-Day invasion of Normandy that will bring out the beginning of the end of the war in Europe, and indirectly, the genesis of the Cold War. This book is a breezy, but highly informative read about one tireless man and how the destiny of the free world fell on his tired shoulders. Inside Out by Demi Moore - This was prob-

ably the best show business memoir of this year. Best known for her roles in “Ghost”, “A Few Good Men” and “G.I. Jane”, Moore gives an engrossing account of how she rose to fame from a highly dysfunctional, toxic family situation, and in turn, felt she was being punished by the Hollywood establishment for the sheer fact that she was becoming a respected, high-salaried actress in this old boys’ club. Also, you get the story behind her famous pregnant and nude Vanity Fair cover back in 1991. Scotty by Ken Dryden. One of the greatest goalies ever to mind the nets in the NHL has once again exhibited his love for the game in his role as a critically-acclaimed bestselling author. This time around, he writes about the legendary coach who helmed the Habs to five Stanley Cups during the 1970s (in which Dryden served as its goaltender throughout that dynasty), Scotty Bowman. Through countless hours of interviews,

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Dryden manages to crack the exterior of this complex individual who became the NHL’s most successful coach, and how Bowman’s passion for hockey led to such an incredible career behind the bench and in the front office of six NHL teams. The Institute by Stephen King -This year, King decided to go the dystopian route with The Institute, and he succeeded tremendously, proving that he could dabble in any literary genre so that he wouldn’t be labeled solely as a horror writer. Once again set in King’s familiar turf of his home state of Maine, the book tells the story of Luke Ellis, a young boy with special mind powers who is kidnapped from his Minnesota home and sent to a remote institution somewhere in Maine, where other children who share such similar powers are held so that they will eventually be indoctrinated and used as pawns of the U.S. government. This is another page-turner from

the mind of Stephen King that loudly screams out regarding the injustices of a government holding innocent children against their own will for no apparent reason. The Show Won’t Go On by Jeff Abraham and Bert Kearns - Who knew that a collection of true stories about well-known or obscure entertainers who literally faced their final curtains onstage could be such a morbidly-fascinating, read-in-one-sitting book? This duo has managed to take a depressing subject on the surface and turn it into a bizarre, yet engrossing catalogue of more than 300 years of final curtain calls ranging from heart attacks to onstage mishaps, which befell upon a variety of unsuspecting performers, whether they were comedian Dick Shawn, British comedian/magician Tommy Cooper, or 1960s entertainment curiosity Tiny Tim. And that takes care of 2019. Have a great page-turning 2020.

Movie Review - By: Sergio Martinez - mtltimes.ca

JUST MERCY: The search for justice ased on a true story, this movie directed by Destin Daniel Cret-

By Sergio Martinez mtltimes.ca ton addresses and old problem in American society: systemic racism in its justice system. It is the late 1980s, Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan), a recent graduate from Harvard decides to leave what could be a relatively comfortable –and safe– continued from Page 16

Paul McCartney: The Life by Philip Norman - Probably one of the best rock journalists around, Philip Norman has made a career over the past 40 years of churning out detailed biographies of a number of rock music legends, such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, John Lennon and Elton John. In his most recent rock bio, he focuses on Paul McCartney (aka the “Cute Beatle”) and his long road to superstardom with the Beatles and on his own. Although McCartney did not agree to do any interviews with Norman for the book, he did give him “tacit approval” to speak with anyone who was associated with him throughout his life and career. And this is what makes the difference to what is such a thorough, definitive biography of the individual who helped change the face of rock music, and still performs to sold-out crowds around the world whenever he does a tour of his amazing three-hour concert. The Help by Kathryn Stockett - I originally read this novel back in the winter of 2010 because the members of a book club that I was leading at the time unanimously chose it for their next spot18

law practice in the East Coast, to take a far more risky path: the defence of death row inmates in Alabama. Being also a black man, Stevenson would be particularly sensitive to the cases of incarcerated blacks waiting to be executed. With the help of Eva Ansley (Brie Larson), a white woman active in civil rights, the lawyer would set a legal office. The initiative would be primarily devoted to helping prisoners whose guilty sentences were issued in a manner that could arise many doubts. One of those men is Walter McMillian a.k.a. Johnnie Dee (Jamie Foxx), convicted for the killing of an 18-year-old white woman. We see at the beginning of the film the circumstances

that lead to the arrest of McMillian, which are from that very moment blatantly arbitrary. Two other inmates are awaiting execution together with McMillian, Herbert Richardson (Rob Morgan) a veteran affected by PTSD a condition that triggered his criminal behaviour, and Anthony Ray Hinton (O'Shea Jackson Jr.), who also claims innocence. Stevenson would take their cases too, although too late for Richardson. Focused on McMillian's case, the movie would take the viewer through all the legal drama with Stevenson trying to prove his client's innocence. This could be somehow tedious at times, although necessary to unveil all the actions taken by the

lighted title. Thinking it was just another piece of “chick lit”, I was pleasantly surprised how excellent this novel really is, as a young aspiring journalist returns to her antebellum Mississippi home during the early 1960s and decides to write an anonymous account of the Black women who worked long, hard hours as maids in her home and the homes of her close friends. Doing this unthinkable (and sometimes dangerous) task, the book is published and causes quite a firestorm. Based on fact, The Help shows that these maids were in their own way, the unsung heroes of the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement. It also became a terrific Oscarwinning movie in 2011 that starred Emma Stone, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer. And by the way, be aware of anyone who suddenly delivers a chocolate cream pie to you. Bossypants by Tina Fey - Since the success of Jerry Seinfeld’s 1993 book Sein Language, it unleashed a whole torrent of stand-up comedians who wanted to prove their literary mettle by producing a book that was either autobiography, a collection of their best comedy routines, or a combination of both. Some books have succeeded (Born Standing

Up by Steve Martin), or have bombed the moment it hit the bookstores (Book by Whoopi Goldberg). But SNL alumnus, writer, director and comedian Tina Fey’s 2011 comic memoir Bossypants is indeed the gold standard of this genre. Through a lot of selfdeprecating humour and painfully honest recall, Fey chronicles her uphill battle to succeed in the world of comedy, which was – and some extent, still is – an old boy’s club. However, Fey’s impressive body of work – Bossypants included – proves she is one of the major forces who helped to break this glass ceiling. Up, Up and Away by Jonah Keri - This was the book that Montreal Expos fans waited a long time for. Montrealborn sports writer Jonah Keri wrote the complete history of Les Amours from its birth in 1968 to its demise 36 years later. Through its triumphs, failures and great moments and players that are forever in our memories, Keri shows why the Expos are still in the hearts and minds of its many fans, who hope that one day they will be resurrected from the ashes; and this is from a franchise that was practically bitten with bad luck even before their inaugural game in 1969.

Lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) and wrongly convicted killer Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx) in "Just Mercy" prosecutor and the was finally achieved only was also supported by county sheriff to get the 26 years ago. Then, the an organization called black man convicted, in- question lingers: how Innocence Canada. A cluding the manipula- many more innocent non-profit organization tion of a white convict's people are still languish- devoted to fighting for testimony. ing in prison, due to sys- the rights of the "Just Mercy" delivers temic racism or an wrongly convicted, of a compelling story with unequal system that dis- which there are too solid performances that criminates again the many cases in this counre-create a situation in poor? (The advance try as well). which –after all– justice screening of this film

Across 4. Asian area 11. Rapture 14. Hidden winner, ___ in the hole 15. Get too many 16. Lode load 17. Wizard of Oz footwear 20. African flower 21. Encounterer 22. Card game 25. Footnote abbr. 29. Live 30. Airs 33. Drudge 34. Bust 35. Pan type 37. Field of play 41. Flowering plant 42. Cheer starter 43. Flock 44. Principle of life, in Hinduism 46. Fancy neckwear 49. Military Order, for short 50. Overcoats 52. Darth Veda's side 57. Cool one's heels 58. Destructive pest 63. Family 64. Astronomer

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65. Life basic 66. Antiquity, once 67. Arranging hair, perhaps 68. Pa and ta ending Down 1. Rattle 2. Eyepiece 3. Fillet 4. In place of 5. Blvd. 6. Saxophonist, Joshua 7. Leprechaun land local 8. Fully fit 9. Legal action 10. Create an email 11. "Mud" 12. "Catch-22" pilot 13. Go word 18.Vote of support 19. Before the finals 23. In a consistent manner 24. Eustacian area related 26. Poi source 27. Cosmetics company 28. Advance 31. Elaborate display 32. Bummed 33. Spots 34. Nor partner 36. Agave rug fiber 37. Bee ___

38. M___: Chinese owned area 39. Craft 40. Meadow 45. Granola cereal 46. Goatees 47. Familiarize 48. Off course 51. Wee hour 53. Periodical publications 54. Surveyor's work 55. Without purpose 56. Commuter line 58. Squeeze (out) 59. "Cool" amount 60. Call off 61. Biddy 62. Swamp Please see answers on-line Saturday edition Page 25 ,January 18tt, 2020 edition: www.mtltimes.ca January 18, 2020 •

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January 18, 2020 •

The First-time Home Buyer Incentive officially launched he First TimeHome Buyer Incentive (FTHBI) officially launches on Monday September 2nd across Canada, aimed at boosting the down payment of first-time home buyers and lowering their mortgage pay-

By Eleni Akrivos mtltimes.ca

home buyer: The incentive will provide an interest free loan of an extra 5% towards the down payment for a resale property and up to 10% down payment towards a new construction property. There are of course rules about who quali-

property within the past 4 years or exceptionally if you went through a divorce or separation. The combined household income of the buyers cannot exceed $120 000 and the maximum loan amount cannot exceed 4 times the family income. You also need

ment property. In Montreal, property prices are still well below the rest of Canada and a buyer can find a condo or even a single home under $500 000. Here is an example provided by the Government of Canada website: placetocallhome.ca

ments anywhere between $150 to $300 per month. Let’s hope this program gives buyers the boost they need keep the market moving. Why did the government of Canada introduce this program? Following a list of government changes to the mortgage rules, it has been a challenge for first time home buyers to qualify for a mortgage. Specifically, the new “stress test” rules introduced in January of 2018 now require buyers to qualify using an interest rate of 2% higher that the negotiated rate. These changes along with rising property prices, have pushed first-time buyers to the curb. Many are priced out of the market. Here is what the government offers if you are an eligible first-time

• January 18, 2020

or you sell the property, the loan needs to be repaid. It is considered a “shared equity” loan, so the repayment amount is calculated on the fair market value of the property at the time of repayment, which can increase or decrease. Say you received a 10% incentive for a property you purchased for $200 000. The incentive received was $20 000. The property is sold at $300 000 many years later. You are required to pay 10% of the market sale price which is $30 000.The repayment may fluctuate up or down, depending on the market value of the home at the time of a sale. Will this incentive put more money in the pockets of First-Time home buyers?

fies as a first-time buyer, to have the minimum the maximum purchase 5% down payment. price and how the loan is repaid back to the What can I purchase government. with the First-time Home Buyer Incentive? Do you qualify as a first-time buyer? The maximum purchase price is around the To be considered a $500 000 price point first-time home buyer and the home needs to you or a spouse/com- be lived in and under 5 mon law partner need doors, meaning you to have not owned a cannot buy an invest-

How does the “interest free” loan work? The loan is registered as a second mortgage on the property you purchase, and no interest is charged. You can pay back the loan at anytime without penalty, but when your first mortgage comes due after the 25 years

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As a first-time home buyer, if a 5% extra down payment will allow you to qualify, where you otherwise would not, then this may be for you. If an extra 10% down payment allows you to afford that new construction town house that is perfect for your new family, then go for it! Keep in mind that you do not control market values and they fluctuate. Keep in mind

that the first mortgage may be changed or altered but that would require extra fees, if you would want to refinance for example. This also may work if it a short-term purchase and you know you are selling within 2-3 years. There won’t be a dramatic fluctuation in the market value. As usual, the best thing to do is meet with a realtor and a mortgage broker who can look at your situation and counsel you accordingly. Helen Akrivos is a Montreal real estate expert who is passionate about educating and inspiring everyone to succeed in real estate! She holds a Chartered real estate broker license and is President of North East Realties agency in Montreal. As a lecturer in the Residential Real Estate Program at College Lasalle, Co-Host of “The Real Estate Show” on CJAD AM800 radio and contributor to the MTL Times newspaper, Helen shares her stories of real estate success to help as many people as possible! Email your comments to eleni@nordestimmobilier.ca

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