Montreal Times 25.45 August 29, 2020

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Vol. 25 No. 45

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Covering Montréal & Surrounding Areas

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Chef Sebastien Harrison-Cloutier, of Montreal's Grumman '78 restaurant, participated in ‘Travel the World with Maille’.

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REM - The Irish Cemetery archaeology study

By Bonnie Wurst mtltimes.ca The existence of a cemetery where 6,000 Irish immigrants were thought to be buried in 1847 was confirmed last November 2019 when archaeologists found bone fragments at a REM construction site in Pointe-Saint-Charles. The remains of 14 people were discovered and the historical significance of the area was confirmed. When the Victoria Bridge was built back in 1859, workers had also discovered some bone fragments and they decided to install a monument in memory of the victims. The monument, known today as the 'Black Rock', was pulled from the river to mark the cemetery

area, so as to avoid any desecration - and the first tribute was paid to the deceased.

It was with this historical knowledge in mind that the REM began work in the area in 2019. They used maps and documents from that time, knowing it was likely some of the work would take place where the Irish cemetery was thought to be. A video of their work (with English subtitles) can be found at: https://youtu.be/rb3qdXzxwHE HISTORY OF THE IRISH COMMUNITY IN MONTREAL The Irish contributed significantly to the city’s development.

They took part in all the major projects of the time, such as the Lachine Canal (1825), its extensions (1843, 1875) and the Victoria Bridge (1854). Working under difficult conditions, they also participated in the development of unions. In the 19th century, they were the second-largest ethnic group in Montreal. In fact, since 1833 the city’s Coat Of Arms has included the Irish shamrock on it - in recognition of Irish immi44 Alouette D.D.O. $870,000

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DEDICATION • DEVOTION • DETERMINATION 2

Discovery of the bones of 14 individuals -REM grants as one of the city’s founding people, exemplifying the community’s influence on the city.

The typhus epidemic of 1847: History took a tragic turn in the middle of the century. The Irish fled their country due to the lack of food that hit Ireland during the Great Famine (1845– 1852). Packed into ships under unhealthy conditions, many travelers came down with typhus, a deadly fever transmitted by insects living on rodents.

In 1847, thousands of Irish immigrants arrived by boat and were quarantined on Grosse Ile, near Quebec City, before continuing on to Montreal. Despite the quarantine, travelers carrying the bacteria arrived in the city and an epidemic broke out.

More than 6,000 Irish people died of typhus, in addition to 1,000 residents including John Easton Mills, the mayor at the time, who had visited the sick.

Given the magnitude of the epidemic, the dead were buried anonymously in wooden coffins near the St. Lawrence River. “It wasn’t an organized cemetery as we know it,” says Elizabeth Boivin, the REM’s deputy director of environment.“The burials were carried out with care, but there were no markers to precisely delineate the cemetery.

It’s even more difficult given that the site is largely covered by railway tracks and roads today.”

To minimize the impact, the design was specifically adapted in the area.“We agreed with the contractor to build a single pillar in this area, rather than the two we would normally put in place.The span between the pillars is therefore longer and we are using custom-made steel beams… we also commissioned a firm to conduct archaeological excavations in the pillar’s caisson,” she explained.The innovative approach was presented to and approved by the Ministere de la culture et des communications and Montreal’s Irish community. On June 12th 2019, a ceremony was held at the Black Rock to bless the soil before work began. Representatives of various religious groups, as well as the First Nations, at-

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Black Rock -REM

Bone fragments -REM tended the event.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS After the preparatory work, archaeological excavations were carried out at the site of the future pillar. It was a very meticulous undertaking - the excavations occurred within a diameter of three metres with little space to proceed, as the railway tracks were right next to it. First, the steel 'caisson' (drilled shafts, cast-in-place, deep foundation elements, designed with steel reinforcement) was bored and anchored in the rock, at a depth of about 12 metres.The railway embankment (about five metres) was excavated to reach the level of the cemetery. Archaeologists entered the caisson in a cylindrical basket, custom-designed for the project. The basket had six removable plates, allowing the archaeologists to methodically carry out the excavations.

The research led to the discovery of the bones of 14 people.

“The bone fragments are very well preserved in a layer of clay, despite the trains rolling above them,” said Boivin. “The specialized firm is currently cleaning, documenting and analyzing the graves. Given the position of the pillar and the historical information available to us, there is little doubt that these bones belong to Irish immigrants.”

Once the analyses have been completed, the bone fragments will be turned over to the Irish community, who have been working with the City of Montreal and Hydro-Quebec to create a memorial park - a way to pay tribute to the Irish people who have made such a substantial contribution to the City's economic, social and cultural development.

August 29, 2020 •

“Making the Deal is an Art Form...”

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No more federal bilingualism in Quebec?

Travelling by train is a great pleasure, but if Simon Jolin-Barrette gets his way, Via Rail will be subject to Bill 101 The short paragraph in an article published

by The Gazette on August 20, must have passed unnoticed to most people. "[PQ leader Pascal] Bérubé was reacting to remarks made Tuesday at a committee of the legislature by [Simon] Jolin-Barrette. Best known to Quebecers as the author of the province's new immigration policy, Jolinbarrette told the committee federally regulated businesses such as banks and Via Rail will soon be subject to Bill 101."

The passage was part of a larger piece— "CAQ is all talk, no action on shoring up French, PQ says," written by Philip Authier—which informed about a press conference given by the interim PQ leader. On that occasion, the PQ leader directed strong criticisms at the minister responsible for the Charter of the French Language.

Berubé dismissed Jolin-Barrette's actions for promoting the use of French in Quebec: "He is not serious," remarked Berubé about the minister.These attacks, of course, derive from the PQ's basic premise that— according to the newspaper—Berubé reiterated at the conference: "If we want to make sure the French language is still a force in Quebec, we need independence."

While it is not surprising that nationalists— the soft and the hardliners—from time to time engage in this type of exchanges, trying to assure their constituents which is the champion of the French language; what may surprise some people, especially in the English community, is the assertion, allegedly made by Jolin-Barrette, that "federally regulated businesses" and "Via Rail will soon be subject to Bill 101." Are there any negotiations underway between the federal government and Quebec to that effect? If so, why is there so little information on the matter?

I contacted Via Rail on the subject, and • August 29, 2020

Montreal Central Station offers bilingual information on train arrivals and departures. Would that continue?

By Sergio Martinez mtltimes.ca

this was the response from the crown corporation: "Good morning, Thank you for your email. As VIA Rail is operated on a Federal level, we will continue to offer services in both official languages. Again, thank you for writing. Sincerely, Jason. Customer Support Desk. VIA Rail Canada." Reassuring? Well, yes and no. The notion of offering "services in both official languages" has more than one meaning: from having employees able to speak both languages, for example, at the time of boarding a train, to accessing bilingual printed information and signs indicating directions on a train or at a station. The former is already available even in most of Quebec own agencies and services, such as Revenu Québec, or by courteous attendants at metro stations.

The latter, however, is more significant, since it implies an actual presence of the federal government through one of its most cherished policies: bilingualism.

This more assertive bilingual policy is also enshrined in the Official Language Act passed in 1971. Part of article 28 of the Act reads: "Every federal institution that is required under this Part to ensure that any member of the public can communicate www.mtltimes.ca

Banks are federally-regulated, and that allow them to post English and French signs, and require bilingual staff at least in some positions with and obtain available services from an office or facility of that institution, or of another person or organization on behalf of that institution […] shall ensure that appropriate measures are taken, including the provision of signs, notices and other information on services and the initiation of communication with the public, to make it known to members of the public that those services are available in either official language at the choice of any member of the public…" Article 29 is even more specific: "Where a federal institution identifies any of its offices or facilities with signs, each sign shall include both official languages or be placed together with a similar sign of equal prominence in the other official language." Of course, this would be incompatible with Bill 101 which explicitly forbids signs in languages other than French. (Bill 146 later modified it, allowing for bilingual signs, but English wording should be just one-third of the French one.)

Another effect, if federally-regulated institutions and federal agencies are to be subjected to Bill 101, would be on hiring policies. Bilingual anglophones, and allophones whose second language is English, who presently have a fair chance to be employed in these institutions, could eventually face difficulties when looking for a job.

A disincentive for the young to stay in the province.

It should be up to the federal government, especially the minister responsible for Official Languages (Melanie Joly), the Official Languages Commissioner (Raymond Théberge), and even the prime minister to set things straight on this most sensitive matter. After all, this was one of the most iconic legislative pieces of Justin Trudeau's father.

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August 29, 2020 •

West Island Cancer Wellness centre opens its doors again It is with great pride that the West Island Cancer Wellness Centre (WICWC) announces that it is welcoming cancer patients and caregivers back! The WICWC's cancer wellness programs were immediately shifted online when COVID-19 hit.

But many of its registered participants said they missed the caring atmosphere of the Centre, the volunteers and the staff. The WICWC is so pleased they can safely walk through its doors again!

The health and safety of the participants is always a top priority for the WICWC team. After thorough research, a COVID19 safety protocol has been implemented that allows them to return with peace of mind. The WICWC is also accepting new registrations. Anyone living with cancer (from diagnosis to one-year post-treatment) can benefit from the free programs and services offered by the WICWC. Caregivers are also welcome.

About the West Island Cancer Wellness Centre: The West Island Cancer Wellness Centre (WICWC) is a registered charity dedicated to offering compassionate care and support to anyone experiencing cancer – either having it themselves or supporting someone with cancer. The Centre exists in response to the demand for a whole-per-

son, integrated approach to wellness that addresses the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of people living with cancer.The programs complement traditional medical practices and, thanks to the Centre's

fundraising efforts and generous donors, are free to anyone living with cancer and their caregivers. For more information, visit www.wicwc.org .

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Montreal opens emergency and residential stability sites for homeless Being homeless in any city is not a position anyone would really want to be in, especially during a pandemic. With autumn soon upon us and the winter season following, nobody should be left alone on the streets trying to survive - whether it is a situation where one finds themselves unable to afford housing or having emotional challenges, drug or alcohol addiction or just plain down and out with bad luck.

In an effort to help those who are homeless, Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante, Lionel Carmant (Health and Social Services Minister) and Chantal Rouleau (Montreal Region Minister) announced the opening of three shelter sites. In their statement made on Thursday August 27th at the former Royal Victoria Hospital, they said the shelters would be able to accommodate the city's homeless people until March 31st 2021.

During the height of the pandemic, special measures were taken by the Health and Social Services Network and community partners to compensate for the closures and reduction of some community services, as well as the impact of health care in the shelters. Temporary accommodations were set up in arenas and centres, for the homeless - but with regular activities slowly resuming in those places, there will be nowhere for them to go.

Anticipating the closures of these temporary resources and the partial resumption of the activities of traditional emergency accommodation services - the Emergency Coordination Centre (EMCC) in

greater Montreal and the CCSMTL have developed a transition plan (in conjunction with RAPSIM, MMFIM and the Aboriginal Health Advisory

By Bonnie Wurst mtltimes.ca Circle in Montreal). The three accommodation sites included in the plan will provide close to 850 spaces for homeless people in Montreal. Although a location has yet to be confirmed, an additional 200 beds with high accessibility for men and women are also planned for this winter. As well, the partners involved in this initiative will continue to ensure that different needs are responded to and monitored.

WHAT IS ALREADY IN PLACE AND WHAT IS TO COME: • At the former Royal Victoria Hospital, close to 200 places have been made available since the beginning of July. Mission Good Home and Mission Old Brewery organizations, in conjunction with the Father's House, manage four floors for male and female accommodation, including one floor for people awaiting screening or COVID-19 test results (in partnership with the Mental Health and Addiction Program Branch of the CSMTL). One floor www.mtltimes.ca

also houses women under the supervision of the Chain and Patricia Mackenzie Pavilion.

• Since August 19th, the GuyFavreau Complex has close to 50 emergency beds with a high accessibility threshold for the homeless Aboriginal and Inuit population and is administered by Quebec Aboriginal Projects (QAP).

• Starting August 31st, the former YMCA Hochelaga will provide emergency accommodation with a high accessibility threshold to 65 people. Managed by CAP SaintBarnabe and CARE Montreal, the two organizations will also offer new places at their sites, including a space dedicated to young people.

• Some traditional shelters will be increasing their capacity.

• As well, some 200 homeless people will receive personalized support and housing assistance under the Quebec Housing Corporation's rent supplement program.

As Mayor Plante was cited as saying, "The Greater Montreal Area, the health care system and community organizations have succeeded since the beginning of the pandemic in preventing the health crisis from turning into a humanitarian crisis by quickly setting up temporary and food shelters as part of the emergency measures. By opening three new accommodation sites, Montreal and its partners are continuing their efforts to ensure that homeless people in Montreal can have a roof over their heads to sleep, eat meals and receive quality support despite the challenges of the pandemic in the coming months."

August 29, 2020 •

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5602 Ave du Parc H2V 4H1, Montreal, QC • August 29, 2020

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August 29, 2020 •

Cooking around the world with Maille Mustard As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we can't travel to our favourite vacation destinations across the country or across the world.

However, when it comes to cooking and fine foods, it can give us a culinary passport to the flavours of the world within the comfort of our own homes.

Throughout the month of August, Maille, the world renowned French Dijon mustard brand that has graced kitchens since 1747, invited Canadians to set out on a tasty adventure with a collection of international recipes prepared by some of Canada's best chefs with their "Travel the World with Maille" promotion.

During every Wednesday throughout the month, virtual cook-alongs were held with three of Canada's top chefs -- Antonio Park of Montreal, Lynn Crawford of Toronto and Vikram Vij of Vancouver -- where they shared their favourite recipes with viewers.

The common thread of their recipes is that they used one of the Maille Mustard products as one of their ingredients. Viewers were then encouraged to vote for their favourite of the three recipes on www.maille.ca, in which a lucky viewer won the opportunity to do a private cook-along with the chef they voted for, which took place on August 26.

As well, the "Travel the World with Maille" • August 29, 2020

By Stuart Nulman mtltimes.ca promotion also gave foodies the chance to experience 15 international-style dishes (using Maille Mustard as part of their recipes) created by 15 more of Canada's best chefs. One of those participating chefs was Sebastien Harrison-Cloutier, of Montreal's Grumman '78 restaurant.The recipe he created specifically for the promotion was whelks (sea snails) in a Maille vinaigrette, accompanied by a piece of fresh bread.

"The Mustard gives that kick that sometimes just balances the recipe," said Mr. Harrison-Cloutier during a recent interview. "With the whelks for instance, they www.mtltimes.ca

bring the saltiness while the mustard brings the needed acidity to the dish. It's a perfect complement."

Mr. Harrison-Cloutier enjoyed being part of the "Travel the World with Maille" promotion, especially being part of a talented culinary crew who represented all of Canada, as well as their respective culinary backgrounds, experiences, preferences and techniques. "I believe I bring an element of warmth to the promotion," he said. "While my dishes are indeed influenced by Mexican, New York and other cuisines from around the world, the food is ultimately highly inspired by and representative of Montreal's uniquely spirited culture and vibrant local agriculture."

As well, Mr. Harrison-Cloutier's other claim to fame is that the restaurant he works at made an early contribution to the popularity of food trucks in Montreal.

"Grumman '78 was the first food truck in Montreal," he said. "It paved the way and I'm proud to be associated with visionaries as we continue to raise the bar here in the restaurant."

For more information, or to get the featured recipes from this promotion, go to www.maille.ca/traveltheworld.

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August 29, 2020 •

Chimney Sweeping - Can I still use my chimney?

ou're as lucky as lucky can be to see a chimney inspector & sweeper yearly!

'Tis the season to have your chimney swept and maintained, before the cold weather rolls into town.

Everyone who heats with oil, gas or wood has a chimney. Yearly maintenance ensures the good working condition of your appliance and keeps your houshold safe. Get your chimney sweep today!

Can I use my chimney? We hear this a lot.

For those living in the city of Montreal the short answer is that you now need an low emission fireplace insert. These inserts still burn wood, and are designed to heat the house. Residents of Montreal can still use their old fireplace in the case of emergency, or a blackout of 3

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Valerie is a popular place we can seal the chimney flue with insu- chimney sweep serviclation and a metal ing the island of Moncrown to prevent cold treal and surrounding Customers drafts, and water infil- areas. agree that her attentration. It will help to tion to detail, professave on heating bills. sionalism and Later, if you choose to cleanliness sets her upgrade we can easily apart from other comre-open the crown and install a wood burning panies. Montreal Chimappliance that con- neys includes a visual forms to the new reg- inspection with each chimney sweep and a ulation.

It is important to get free estimate for rea professional to check pairs. the condition of your montrealchimneys.com 438-345-6687 chimney yearly. Go montrealchimneys outside and look up at @gmail.com your chimney. If you You're as lucky as see bricks crumbling lucky can be to see a a big difference before Says Valerie, who has hours or more. Please you should get that recall Montreal Chim- damage gets worse over 15 years of expe- paired before winter. A chimney inspector & neys for more infor- and more expensive." rience, she goes on to chimney crown and sweeper yearly! mation and a free estimate for EPA certified low emissions fireplace insert.

For those who live in a de-merged city, you can still use your fireplace or wood stove as usual, whenever you want to!

Chimney sweeping is a historic profession which many think has gone extinct, however having your chimney cleaned and inspected is still important as ever. Some common issues including animal nesting, soot build up, deteriorating brickwork & water damage can all be fixed by a chimney sweep.

We spoke to Valerie Adams of Montreal Chimneys, the only female chimney specialist in the region, about the fate of her profession: "Wherever you live, chimney maintenance billthepoolman@hotmail.com is still necessary to keep your home safe. www.poolcarespecialist.ca Small repairs can make

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August 29, 2020 •

Book Reviews - mtltimes.ca

The Last High

by Daniel Kalla During a party in a well-to-do suburb of Vancouver, seven teenagers are rushed to the emergency room of a local hospital, as they mysteriously overdose from drinking the punch at the party that was spiked with an opioid that is alleged to be fentanyl; all but two of the teens in question are dead on arrival. One will make a complete recovery, while the other constantly fights for her life.

A few days later, a senior airline pilot during an overnight stopover in Vancouver, dies from an overdose of an illicit drug he buys from a dealer outside his hotel. And then a few days after that, a Vancouver lawyer, during a swanky party, immediately dies from taking a bought-from-the-street opioid.

These mysterious deaths are too much for toxicologist and ER doctor Julie Rees, who treated the seven teens who overdosed during their party. Fearing a new opioid crisis that could arise on the streets of Vancouver with a little known drug that's potentially deadlier than fentanyl, she teams up with police detective Anson Chen to find out what this new opioid is, and who is responsible for manufacturing and distributing it, before it kills more unsuspecting victims.

This is the heart stopping premise of Daniel Kalla's new medical thriller The Last High.

Similar to the approach that was used in Steven Soderberg's acclaimed 2000 movie • August 29, 2020

By Stuart Nulman mtltimes.ca "Traffic", the book takes a look at the Vancouver illicit drug scene from every aspect and every person who deal the drug and those who are directly and indirectly affected by it. From the Wei brothers, who use their thriving real estate business as a front for their narcotics trafficking for one of the violent Chinese triad gangs; to Markku, the Finnish-born dealer who insists that his addict clients use his drugs while accompanied by another person and carry Naloxone kits in case they overdose; to the chemist who "cooks" the drugs for the streets from raw materials that are smuggled from China in laptop computers; to the hard bitten addicts who inhabit Vancouver's notorious east side; to the emerwww.mtltimes.ca

gency room doctors who make it a daily part of their jobs to treat these addicts from overdosing on these new, yet deadly, opioids.

Kalla, who is himself an emergency medicine doctor in Vancouver, uses his medical knowledge to a great extent in The Last High. Through the character of Dr. Rees, Kalla shows how a doctor in this kind of medical practice has to be a quick-thinking medical expert one moment, and a detective the next moment, as she employs these skills in order to find out what killed these innocent victims, and what can be done to take this new opioid off the streets before it kills even more people in dangerous proportions. As well, he focuses on the vulnerabilities that can plague these crusading doctors that have them ending up dealing with their own set of personal baggage (in this case, Dr. Rees recovering from her own drug addiction that proved to be almost self-destructive).

But if you want an engrossing, edge of your seat thriller that combines good detective work, corruption, savage criminal practices, a dark, seamy portrait of a large Canadian city, and a hard-hitting lesson on the medical and emotional effects of opioid drugs, then The Last High certainly fills that prescription.

(Simon & Schuster, $22) 13

I Ride For Cody - One man's journey from Mtl to BC Last December, Jon Shrier lost his dear friend Cody to cancer. Known to Cody and his brother Kyle as Uncle Jonathan, he has been a very close friend and a big part of their family for many years. After Cody lost his battle on February 3rd 2020, they found a note where he wrote that he wanted to start a foundation to help other Cancerstricken kids. In memory of Cody, Jon made the decision to honour his wishes and he came up with the idea of riding his One Wheel electric skateboard from Montreal to Whistler BC to raise the funds. He plans to finish the trip in about 30 days - with the goal of raising $30,000.

It was on May 22nd 2019 when Cody was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer called Osteo Ewing Sarcoma that developed from out of his left rib. For five months, he underwent intense treatments to shrink the tumour as much as possible, before going in for surgery. Cody was a fighter and determined to fight the disease - and to live his life the same way as if he did not have it. He even asked to be taken off his IV to complete a 5km run and then come back to be hooked up again - much to the

amazement of the hospital staff. He was so determined that while receiving his treatments he never stopped working out, going to work as a lifeguard or attending his classes at John Abbott College as he was entering his third year in the Business program.

Cody underwent eight hours of surgery on November 6th 2019 at the Montreal

General Hospital. Four of his ribs and half of his left lung, along with the tumour were removed. The surgery was considered a huge success and he was even told by his doctor told that he was cancer-free and all he had to do was have four more months of his chemotherapy treatments - and he would live a long and healthy life. All seemed to be going well, until they found out on December 12th that his cancer had come back - and with a 'vengeance'. On February 3rd 2020, after nine long months of fighting for his life, Cody lost his battle.

Jon will ride over 4700 kilometres to raise the funds. He will have a spare wheel with him and is hoping a sponsor will come forth with an extra One Wheel skateboard, so he does not have to stop and wait while it is charging. The route from Montreal to Whistler was chosen for a significant reason - Cody lived in Montreal, but born in Whistler. For more details about Cody's journey and to donate to the campaign go to http://cmbfund.org.You can also watch a video with Jon and Cody's father discussing how it all came about:: https://youtu.be/MunmSmIZmFY

Investing in your health

By Joanna Wright Montreal Times

oon after my father’s death, my family began the arduous task of sorting through his financial affairs. While doing so, we discovered that he had left us with a generous amount of money through his life insurance plan. Through my grief, something kept making me shake my head, as I rolled those two little words around in my brain. Life insurance? How ironic.

He was dead. There was no insurance of “life” for my father in this long term investment. The only thing that was certain is that he wouldn’t be the one reaping the benefits.

Then a strange emotion began to emerge.

Regret. Why hadn’t he invested in his health with this money while he was still alive? Perhaps we could have enjoyed a few more good years to share together? Did he really think I’d rather have this money than have him here beside me?

I recount this story often to groups of seniors who fail to see the importance of investing

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in their health.

Whether it be a personal fitness trainer, a recumbent exercise bike or a gym membership, I explain to them that, in the end, we will all pay for our health in one way or another. But being proactive and staying healthy is much cheaper in the long run and much more fun.

Consider the statistics. As a senior, if you are no longer able to live independently, the average cost of an assisted care living facility is approximately $1800 to $5000 a month.

Most seniors who find themselves in this predicament can no longer perform the basic tasks of taking care of themselves due to weak muscles, low energy endurance, arthritic bones, or balance issues. In contrast, a good treadmill might set you back $1000. A qualified trainer $65 an hour. A gym membership $100 a month.

There is no comparison.

As a trainer who specializes in working with seniors, I have perfected the fine art of targeting the exact exercise movements that will give my clients the

tools to stay afloat. I once trained a 90 year old woman in her own condo until she ultimately had to accept the fact that she needed more care. She lamented to me, “I guess I failed.”. On the contrary. She had worked hard to give herself 4 more years of living HER way. Sleeping when she wanted, eating what she wanted, DOING what she wanted. I call that a success.

Looking back, I wish my father had invested not for us...but for him.

I miss him. He crossed his fingers and hoped for good health while diligently planning financially for his demise.

I can’t help my dad anymore. But my passion and my goal as an older adult fitness trainer is to motivate, educate and guide other seniors to invest in their health today, so that their families are able to love them for as long as possible!

Joanne Wright is the co owner of Age in Motion, In Home Fitness and Mobility services

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August 29, 2020 •

Canadian actor Konstantina Mantelos first feature film role For Toronto-born actor Konstantina Mantelos, who has kept herself busy in the entertainment world performing in local theatre, short films and web series, her feature film debut is a rather unusual horror film called "Anything for Jackson", which will make its debut on September 1, 7 p.m., as part of Fantasia, Montreal's premier horror and fantasy film festival.

ceptions of what mental illness is all about.

This year's edition of the festival is scheduled to run from October 5 to 19; and like many of Montreal's artistic and cultural festivals, Au Contraire will go the virtual route by presenting their line-up of films on an online platform. That line-up will be unveiled at a later date.

However, the festival kicked off their 8th year in a festive way on August 19 with a special live fundraiser called "Drive-In to End the Stigma", which took place at the increasing popular venue the Royalmount

By Stuart Nulman mtltimes.ca

Konstantina Mantelos Here's the premise of "Anything for Jackson". An elderly couple, who lose their beloved --and only -- grandson (named Jackson, of course) in a tragic accident. So the couple decide to abduct Shannon Becker (played by Ms. Mantelos), a pregnant women, so that the couple could perform on her a ritual in which they will insert the soul of Jackson into Shannon's unborn baby.

It's sort of like a "reverse exorcism" without the cursing and the projectile vomiting of green pea soup.

"When I read the film's description, I thought to myself 'Wow. How fun does this sound?'. It really stood out for me because the characters were interesting, they had heart, the writing was great, and I thought it was a horror film with a lot more to it than blood and guts and ghouls," said Ms. Mantelos during a recent phone interview.

The film was shot in Barrie, Ontario for three weeks, and wrapped up just as the shut down that resulted from the COVID19 pandemic began. And throughout that period of principal photography, Ms. Mantelos enjoyed this rather bizarre experience. "I was chained to a bed most of the time, as these two elderly people scrambled around trying to do a satanic ritual that they were not particularly good at," she added.

Although she is excited that "Anything for Jackson" will have its premiere at Fantasia, Ms. Mantelos realizes that there are benefits and drawbacks of participating in a virtual version of this year's festival.

"Fantasia is the perfect festival for this film, and it is one of the front runners in the horror film genre these days. The organizers have done a great job switching to a digital platform, so that people from across Canada who can't make their way to the festival can now buy tickets for this and any other film on the line-up. However, there will be something missing; I won't get • August 29, 2020

the chance to hear people scream and gasp when they usually watch a horror film," she said.

Besides preparing to become a future scream queen, Ms. Mantelos is busy developing projects for Spinning Top Pictures, a production company she established with her partner Douglas Gibbens shortly after she got her BFA degree in Acting from the Ryerson School of Performance. They already produced two short films -"Lakesong" and "Departure" -- and she is currently in the process of writing her first feature film screenplay.

"What I like about Spinning Top Pictures is that we can make our own pictures, while taking control of our careers. I now have the power to write those characters and films that I want to watch."

For more information about "Anything for Jackson" or any other films being featured at this year's Fantasia Festival, or to purchase tickets, go to: www.fantasiafestival.com .

The Au Contraire Film Festival

The stigma behind the subject of mental illness has always been a touchy one. And even though that wall is coming down, there is still a lot of work to do towards creating a total sense of awareness and understanding.

One way is through the arts, especially motion pictures. For the past seven years, the Au Contraire Film Festival (ACFF) has successfully acted on their mission of presenting edgy, thought-provoking films and panel discussions that help to entertain, educate and tear down people's previous perwww.mtltimes.ca

Montreal Comedy Series

Drive-In Event Theatre. The full house crowd was treated to catered food from a network of food trucks; entertained by a live concert from 2020 festival spokesperson Florence K; viewed three award-winning, Oscar-nominated shorts that deal with the festival's mission; and paid tribute to Dr. Karl Looper of the Jewish General Hospital's psychiatry department and the Donald Berman UP House on its 10th anniversary as a community partner.

For more information about ACFF and its upcoming festival line-up, go to: www.acff.ca .

Montreal comedy fans, rejoice! Live stand-up comedy in a festival setting is back, as a brand new comedy festival is born.

The Montreal Comedy Series, scheduled to run from August 28 to September 6, is an English-language festival that will feature nine days filled with 15 comedy shows performed by 100 comedians from the local comedy scene in nine intimate venues across the downtown area.

Some of the comedians scheduled to perform at the Montreal Comedy Series include Franco,Tadseo, Emile Khoury, Gino Durante, Josh Shapiro, Viveth K, Michelle Dominique, Zack Kik and Caroline Piche.

Some of the festival's thematic shows include the Future Comedy All Stars, Montreal's Got Jokes, Comedy Rebels, Comedy Legends and Future Comedy Legends, and Raw Stand Up Comedy.

And please note that all festival shows will have the doors open two hours prior to showtime, with COVID-19 safety measures such as hand sanitizer and tables placed six feet apart are going to be implemented.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to: www.montrealcomedyseries.com 15

City Stamp celebrates 45 years of service to Montreal Stamp Collectors

B

ack in the early and mid-1970s, I was an avid stamp collector.

In particular, I was partial to stamps from Canada and the U.S. For about three years, I spent my Sunday afternoons going to coin and stamp shows that took place in hotel ballrooms throughout Montreal, leading through the albums of multitude stamp dealers to see what I could add to my growing North American stamp collection.

Robert Cooperman was also attracted to the world of philately (the classic term for stamp collecting), when he first took up the hobby at the age of eight. Six years later, he turned his passion for stamps into a profession, when he became a

bond fide stamp dealer.

In 1975, Cooperman established City Stamp Montreal, a business that catered to long time stamp collectors who wanted to buy and sell rare and valuable stamps. And 45 years later, City Stamp Montreal has maintained their stellar reputation as a high end stamp dealer.

"I feel like it's quite an accomplishment for my business -- or any business -- to be around for 45 years," said Cooperman during a recent phone interview. "I have seen City Stamp through many different phases, whether it be inflation or other difficult times that have affected the world. But I have to give myself a pat on the back for being around for so long, es-

Robert Cooperman City Stamp pecially owing to the fact that City Stamp was able to adapt to changing times."

And one major adaptation that greatly affected City Stamp Montreal for the better happened eight years ago, when Cooperman was approached by Michael Rosenblatt, a young entrepreneur who specialized in online marketing, who

strongly suggested that City Stamp follow the World Wide Web route (www.citystamp.ca).

Since that fateful decision, City Stamp now has Platinum Seller status with eBay, and as a result of their tremendous online success, revamped their website in 2017.

"We now have a strong website, and it's an important part of the business because it's a major platform for us to sell high value stamps," said Cooperman. "We're also affiliated with Hip Stamp (www.hipstamp.com), a user friendly site for stamp collectors that covers 940 stores and has an inventory of over six million stamps, which offers a direct line to collectors, and people have really taken a liking to that."

"With the recent corona virus pandemic, there have been a lot more people who have been on the sidelines for years that have just come back into the hobby, and with stamp dealers going online, it brings them into the present moment," he added. "And stamp collectors are definitely thrilled that they have this hobby to keep them active during this time. They have more time and less responsibilities to devote more time to stamp collecting. As well, they are spending more money

Canada #5 Mint very fine with original gum Value: catalogues for $80,000 on stamps because they constantly buys and have a great appetite for sells rare stamps of a high quality, as well as it."

Cooperman said that worldwide stamp colthese days, stamp col- lections, from a cuslectors are seeking out tomer base from North classic stamp issues America and around from around the globe, the world. especially those from As well, City Stamp Great Britain and Montreal is well known British Commonwealth for offering collectors countries, as well as the higher premiums on U.S., because they ei- what it purchases and ther maintain their high value or go up in price. sells for less than what Another type of stamps competing stamp dealthat are sought after by ers offer. There is also collectors are the high free worldwide shipgrades of all sorts of ping, flexible payment stamps, because they terms and a 30-day satare instantly able to sell isfaction guarantee. For them to dealers or fel- more information, or to low collectors. book an appointment, Cooperman runs City Stamp Montreal with a call 514-875-2596 or staff of four (which in- toll free at 1-800-615cludes three expert phi- 2596, or by email at: latelists), who info@citystamp.ca .

$11.50

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August 29, 2020 •

“Honey, I’m Staying Home”

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taying home is the helps to prevent cellular New Way. We damage and aging. need to make the Honey circulates the best of it, honey. blood cells Honey soothes.

You will have beautiful, Mix honey and water healthy skin.

Honey is best RAW! When honey is pasBy Martha Shannon teurized, many of mtltimes.ca honey’s intriguing properties are lost. and you have hydrogen While you are home, peroxide. This mild skin spoil yourself to a antiseptic soothes skin honey facial mask. irritations.

• 2 Tablespoons raw Honey rejuvenates honey Your skin loves honey • 1 Tablespoon French as it encourages new green clay* cell growth. *(our clay neem with Honey exfoliates oatmeal makes it even The gluconic acid in more special) honey safely loosens Other nutritious your dead skin cells, options thus honey is a gentle • A drop of your exfoliant. It also infavourite essential oil creases elasticity, bal• A mashed banana ances out oily skin, stimulates collagen and (your skin will love the minimizes those fine banana’s vitamin A) lines and wrinkles. 1. Mix together the Honey, you look mar- honey and French green clay velous!

2. Add your favourite Honey moisturizes Honey attracts water, essential oil if desired making it an excellent (lavender or frankinhumectant. (i.e.: retains cense or tea tree are exceptional in a facial) moisture) 3. Add a small amount Honey reduces free of water to thin it out if radicals This means honey necessary.

4. Wash your face with

• August 29, 2020

a real soap. Pat skin dry leaving it slightly moist 5. Apply the honey clay mask mixture all over the face and neck (if desired).

6. Relax for 10-15 minutes.

7. Rinse face with warm water.

BTW, we add Lemon Honey from Heavenly Honey to our tooth cleanser to further en-

hance the nutrition necessary for a clean mouth and teeth.

Honey’s naturally antimicrobial properties are essential to the body’s portal to good health.

We also add Manuka from the Manuka plant in our Manitouka Scrub and our Anti-odour Bar. The Manuka honey, based on the renowned

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Manuka flower (thank you bees) is being studied for use in many hospital situations around the world. That’s the miracle of honey.

If you want excellent honey, shop locally. Visit your market this summer and buy natural honey. If staying home is the preferred option you can call or order online to a local retailer.

Let us know how honey works for you!

We stand behind our products. We give great customer service. Visit us at natural.ca. Subscribe to our newsletter. Please call to place orders 514-6940705 as our boutique is temporarily closed: ‘La Boutique Earth to Body’, 89 Lucerne, Pointe Claire, QC H9R 2V1) Email: info@natural.ca

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Canada's hot housing markets could be in for cold reality check Don't be fooled by the blazing housing markets of summer. Experts say we won't see the full effects of the pandemic on Canada's real estate market until later this year and the coming reality check could be a painful one, according to the latest report on Canadian housing and mortgage trends from Lowestrates.ca.

Mortgage deferral programs have helped offset the economic shock to households across the country. But the end of these programs in the fall could lead to an influx of properties on the market as some Canadians may no longer be able to afford their homes, triggering a slump despite low mortgage rates.

"It's very hard to say right now if the blistering house price gains we've seen in the past few months will continue into the autumn and winter season. That's when the market will really be tested," said Justin Thouin, CEO of LowestRates.ca. "The overall economy is continuing to struggle with elevated unemployment and businesses hesitant to spend. So far, hot housing markets like Toronto's have shrugged this off, but there's higher risk than normal now of that reversing."

"Something that will continue to at least help housing prices will be ultra-low mortgage rates, which we expect will continue to stick around for at least a couple of

years, if not more," Thouin adds.

According to the Canadian Mortgage Rates and Housing Trends 2020 report: Toronto's 17% YOY increase in average selling prices in July is the result of a shortterm demand shock from the housing market shutting down at the beginning of the pandemic National mortgage rates could drop even further than the current 1.69% fixed rates we're seeing. Rates are expected to remain

low for years A lull in immigration could significantly impact the Toronto and Vancouver markets Negative interest rates, such as those implemented in Denmark, are not on the horizon for Canada "There is too much volatility right now for the Bank of Canada to raise interest rates," says Thouin. "But this doesn't guarantee stability in Canada's housing market."

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August 29, 2020 •

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For Sale - Senneville

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VILLAGE

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• August 29, 2020

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August 29, 2020 •