The Pointe-Claire Record

Welcome to the Pointe-Claire Record

Not Just Another Newspaper?

Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Pointe-Claire Record – where community, history, and the future converge. Initiated by the Pointe-Claire Citizens’ Association (PCCA), this project is a testament to the collaborative spirit that defines our vibrant community. In this inaugural piece, we’ll delve into the historical roots of this endeavor, explore the current state of affairs, gaze into the future, and ultimately answer the question posed in our headline.

Honoring Our Past

Our journey began with a clear objective: to construct and disseminate a monthly newspaper that imparts valuable information about Pointe-Claire to a substantial portion of our population, fostering community cohesion. A glance into our community’s past revealed that we stand on the shoulders of others. For over 50 years, Montreal West has been publishing “The Informer,” and Baie D’Urfe’s citizens’ association has produced “News & Views” since 1947.

Your 2024 Municipal Property Tax Increase Explained

Most of you have already received your municipal property taxes for 2024 and are aware that for next year, there is a city wide 3.9% increase for residential properties. Why 3.9%? Let me explain.

The first important fact to know is that all municipalities MUST present a balanced budget, meaning that our expenses must equal our revenues, it is the law. For 2024 both our revenues and expenses will be 181.5M.

We can easily control the tax revenues generated by adjusting your property tax rate from year to year. Thus, once again, why 3.9%? The answer to this question is on

The year 2024 also marks a centennial milestone in Pointe-Claire’s publishing history. In homage to a newspaper that shared our name a century ago, we proudly christen our publication “The Pointe-Claire Record.”

Seizing the Present Moment

The PCCA has long been committed to uniting people, celebrating our community, and fostering dialogue to cultivate shared understanding. The addition of this newspaper is the next step in our evolutionary journey, expanding our reach to a wider audience. In a city as dynamic as ours, where information flows from myriad sources, our aim is to amalgamate it into an easily accessible format, providing a common foundation for all residents. While opinions may differ on solutions, let’s unite on the bedrock of relevant facts.

Beyond news, we’ll bring you updates on city events, highlights of the myriad activities that make our city exceptional, and much more. But this is just the beginning.

Table of Contents

Welcome to the Pointe-Claire Record Your 2024 Municipal Property Tax Increase Explained Around Town City 2024 Budget Increase Held to 4.8%

The City Corner: Councillor Report from District 4 Becoming an Inclusive Disability and Special-needsfriendly City

Council Highlights for Jan 16

PCCA Holiday Decorations Photo Contest Winners About the Pointe-Claire Citizens’ Association (PCCA) Wellness Zone: An Introduction to Wellness & Health For the Love of Pets

Calculating Property Value

The Kitchen: Barry’s Oink Rub PC Record Contacts

Your 2024 Municipal Property Tax Increase (cont.

from page 1)

the operating expenses side of the balance sheet. Basically, we first need to determine how much more our operating expenses will be in 2024 compared to 2023. This number for 2024 is 8.3M or 4.8%.

Where does the 8.3M in increased expenses come from? The largest increase in expenses is what we commonly refer to as the “Quote Part”. This 5.1M increase represents a 6.4% increase over last year, (63% of total increased expenses) is what we transfer to the city of Montreal for services including police, fire department, water management and a few other smaller services. We have no control or say in this increase, and it has been a point on contention for a long time. The other 37%, or 3.2M is controlled by the city and is primarily related to salaries, waste management and general cost increases such as fuel and outside services.

The graph below shows the increase/decrease by category resulting in the 8.3M or 4.8% in increased operating expenses for 2024 versus 2023. This graph is taken directly from the Pointe-Claire website

So, we now need to find 8.3M in new revenue (operating income) to meet our legal requirement of a balanced budget.

OPERATING BUDGET*

Our largest source of revenue is clearly taxes (89% in 2023) and most of the other categories of revenue are estimates based upon history or trends.

From the graph (page 3), we see the increases in operating income by category with the largest increase in dollars is taxes at 6.6M (or 4.2%). This 6.6M of additional revenue, when calculated by household or business, results in your 3.9% increase.

That leaves 1.7M (8.3M – 6.6M) of additional operating income attributed to other sources of revenue, which are once again, estimations based upon prior history or trends. Thus, based upon the information provided above, we have determined how much more we need to spend in 2024 and taken measures to make sure that matching extra revenues are generated, resulting in a legal municipal budget.

In closing, I have tried to make this as simple as possible to explain, but if you have any additional questions, you may always reach out to me at ericstorky@gmail.com.

I have also included the link below to the city website where the full presentation can be found: https://www.pointe-claire.ca/content/ uploads/2023/12/2024-presentation_budget-1.pdf

Contributed by Eric Stork City of Pointe-Claire Councillor for District 7 – Northview

OPERATING BUDGET

Welcome to the Pointe-Claire Record (cont. from page 1)

Building the Future Together

Our vision for The Pointe-Claire Record is vast – encompassing sports, vibrant photos, restaurant spotlights, and a healthy dose of canine charm (because who doesn’t love our pets?). Yet, in keeping with our core principle of being “for the community, by the community,” we seek your involvement in several ways:

1. Feedback: Read the newspaper and share your thoughts. Agree or disagree, we welcome all respectful feedback. Email us at editor@pcrecord.ca.

2. Spread the Word: Pointe-Claire boasts a diverse population, and we aspire to resonate with everyone. Help us achieve this by sharing the newspaper with others. Click here to subscribe.

3. Contribute: Be a part of our volunteer-driven, non-

Around Town

Click on the event for details

Jan 26: Jeff Smallwood - solo at the studio

Jan 27: Pointe-Claire Winter Carnival

Jan 27: Saturday Story Time at Valois

Jan 28: Circus and Trapeze – All levels

profit initiative. Submit articles, adhere to our editorial guidelines, and join the conversation. Click here to view the Guidelines and Submission.

Not JUST Another Newspaper!

As promised, let’s circle back to the essential question: How does this newspaper weave into the fabric of Pointe-Claire? We envision it standing out, becoming an integral monthly thread in the tapestry of city life. Rest assured, our commitment is unwavering – we’ll strive to deliver objective, fact-based news and captivating stories. The PCCA extends gratitude for the incredible support, encouragement, and community-driven articles. Brace yourselves for what lies ahead – thank you for embarking on this thrilling journey with us!

The PC Record Founding Editors: Barry Christensen, Jonathan Csakany, Caroline Speirs

Feb 3: Whiskey tasting with Mathew

Feb 6: Paint Nite: The Original Paint and Sip Party

Feb 9: Vivaldi and the Baroque Nomads

Feb 11: Paint Nite: Cat Lovers

Feb 17: PC Oldtimers Outdoor Classic & Family Event

Feb 25: Vernissage – The carefulness and the blade

City 2024 Budget Increase Held to 4.8%

By holding to tight budget discipline, the hike in PointeClaire operating expenses for 2024 was held to 8.3 million dollars, representing an increase of 4.8% over 2023. Revenues from property taxes which represent 161.5 million of our total 181.5 million dollar budget will go up by 4.2% We managed this despite the fact that the amount Pointe-Claire must remit to the Montreal Agglomeration went up more than five million dollars from 80.7 million dollars in 2023 to 85.8 million dollars in 2024 representing a 6.4% increase.

The money P-C remits to the Agglo is fixed in the secretive budget planning process held within the closed doors of the city of Montreal’s Executive Committee. They determine the Agglo expenses and they decide what expenses are properly Montreal’s and what expenses are properly shared by the demerged cities and towns. And they decide how to apply the complicated formula which divies out their ‘quote-part’ or share of the Agglo expense burden to each of the demerged municipalities. Pointe-Claire’s quote-part works out to about 2.7% of the Agglo budget.

As a reminder, the 85.8 million dollars we will remit to the Agglo is to pay our share for police, fire, public transit, and infrastructure for drinking water, and sewage treatment, as well as other Agglo wide services for culture, heritage, and the environment. In addition, the city passes on to our citizens the fee the agglo charges Pointe-Claire for the drinking water they consume.

In addition to our operating expenses, the city must also finance our capital investment program which pays for infrastructure improvements. In 2024 this will come to 35.4 million dollars financed through long term loans, and past budget surpluses attributed to unbudgeted welcome taxes and the parks and green-spaces fund contributions charged for real estate transactions. It is important to understand that real estate development

The City Corner: Councillor Report from District 4

We have invited the Mayor and all councillors to contribute any updates that they wish to share with the community. Here is our first submission from Tara Stainforth, City of Pointe-Claire Councillor for District 4 – Cedar Park Heights.

pays for almost a fifth of our capital investment in roads, buildings, parks, and heavy equipment.

This allows the city to keep its long term debt down while maintaining the quality of community life our citizens enjoy. It should also be pointed out that 2025 and 2026 will see significant increases in capital spending (52.7 and 63.3 million respectively) if we are not to make sacrifices to our collective quality of live. Of course if revenues from real estate development subside there will be important decisions to be made: will taxes go up to compensate or will capital investment go down, diminishing to some extent our quality of life.

But those decisions are for next year and the years to come. This year it is good news. Our total long term debt is forecast to drop from 85.4 million in 2023 to 71.9 million dollars in 2024.

Now where are the property tax revenues coming from? Quebec law allows us six categories for tax assessment:

1. Residential of one to six units;

2. Residential of more than six units;

3. Commercial value up to one million $ ;

4. Commercial value more than one million $;

5. Industrial

6. Vacant land

The six tax rates are carefully set in order to minimize increases on our residents and small merchants who are the least able to afford them. So while our overall budget went up 4.8% a resident owning a home valued at $674,216 (the average assessed value in Pointe-Claire) would see their taxes go up $158 or just 3.9%.

In sum, Pointe-Claire residents have been presented a fiscally prudent budget. Their tax contributions pay for 1/3 of the city’s total expenses with the remaining 2/3 coming from commercial and industrial ratepayers. And the rise in expenses has been wrestled down to a minimum for each category.

Contributed by Brent Cowan City of Pointe-Claire Councillor for District 8 - Oneida

Thank you for offering us the opportunity to add something to your newspaper. Here is an update from our district.

Cedar Park Forest: In December a cleanup of hanging branches was done. Another team will clean up other branches along Douglas-Shand properties backing the forest this winter. cont. on page 5

Meet & Greet for Wellesley Residents Jan 27 at 10am. Mark your calendars, and I’ll see you there.

Accessibility committee: I am the representative in this City committee. Should you have suggestions for accessible park equipment or other accessible additions to a local park, concerns or requests, please email me at tara.stainforth@pointe-claire.ca to have suggestions brought to the working group.

Diversity & Social Inclusion Committee: After doing consultations and receiving feedback from a specialized firm in DSI, we have put together an internal working group that encompasses all city departments. Together, we are receiving training in DSI as well as putting together an action plan based on 4 different orientations. Once the action plan is completed and approved by Council, we will be able to share it with the public. The working group is really excited about this initiative and looks forward to bringing it to our residents and to eventually bring them into the collaborative fold.

Youth Advisory Board: We are seeking 2 new members. Please see the ad on this page.

Parks: Our park spaces serve as invaluable assets, fostering a strong sense of community, promoting healthy lifestyles, and catering to individuals of all ages. Ensuring these areas remain pristine is imperative to safeguard their beauty and safety. Let’s commit to properly disposing of cigarette butts and other garbage, as they not only contribute to a cleanliness issue but also pose a danger to our wildlife.

Cedar Park Chalet: I’m thrilled to share that the Chalet is once again open, after its interior renovations postfire. This important space is essential for our community, providing opportunities for gatherings and activities for all to enjoy. Looking ahead, our district anticipates a series of transformative projects, including the enhancement of the Chalet with roof renovations and improved outdoor access points.

Infrastructure: Alongside this, the replacement of streetlights along Stillview ensures better safety and illumination on our streets, while work on Sundale Avenue will include new pipes and asphalt.

Environment: We have committed $200,000 for the reforestation in Tony Proudfoot Park following the felling of the ash trees.

Furthermore, slated projects from 2025 to 2027 encompass significant improvements at Cedar Park Heights Park, such as leveling the inner field, upgrading the

ball stopper fence, and implementing essential drainage work to enhance the park’s functionality.

As your City Councillor, my role is to represent the collective interests of our district and its residents. I collaborate with the administration to make informed decisions that benefit our community. While I’m not the primary contact for emergencies, please reach out to Public Security for urgent matters. However, I’m available to discuss issues or assist with problems unresolved by city employees. My availability typically spans the late afternoons, evenings, and weekends due to my daytime commitment to teaching.

Your support and involvement in our community initiatives make a significant impact. Together, let’s cherish our neighborhood and strive for a safer, cleaner, and more vibrant district.

Contributed by Tara Stainforth City of Pointe-Claire Councillor for District 4 – Cedar Park Heights

APPEL DE CANDIDATURES

COMITÉ CONSULTATIF JEUNESSE

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD

Le comité consultatif jeunesse de Pointe-Claire est à la recherche de candidates et candidats bénévoles pour l’année 2023-2024.

VOUS ÊTES :

Âgé(e) de 14 à 21 ans

Résident(e) de Pointe-Claire Bilingue (français/anglais) Impliqué(e) dans la communauté

VOTRE MANDAT

Proposer des recommandations pour bonifier les activités et les services jeunesse.

Posez votre candidature au plus tard le 28 janvier à 16 h, au pointe-claire.ca/emplois.

2023

The Pointe-Claire Youth Advisory Board is seeking volunteer candidates for the 2023-2024 mandate.

YOU ARE: 14 to 21 years old

Resident of Pointe-Claire Bilingual (French/English) Involved in the community

YOUR MANDATE

To propose recommendations to improve youth activities and services.

Submit your application no later than January 28 at 4 p.m. at pointe-claire.ca/jobs.

Becoming an Inclusive Disability and

Special-needs-friendly City

The City of Pointe-Claire is growing increasingly aware of its diversity, inching closer towards becoming a fully inclusive disability and special-needs-friendly City!

Our City has incorporated ongoing inclusion and accommodation goals and objectives through a yearly Action Plan designed to meet the needs of Pointe-Claire residents with disabilities, ranging from City employee training, the recent obtention of Assistive Listening Devices (ALD) technology and Closed-Captioning in City Council meetings to the varied park equipment structures in City Parks and Leisure Programming activities as well as working together alongside Community Organizations from Montreal and the West-Island by pro-

Council Highlights for Jan 16

Pointe-Claire’s windmill is one step closer to its restoration after the adoption of a new bylaw by the city’s council, but that bylaw did not pass without opposition.

During a regular council meeting on Jan. 16, council adopted a motion creating a nearly $1 million fund for the restoration and protection of the windmill.

Both Mayor Tim Thomas and Councillor Bruno Tremblay voted against the bylaw: In speaking before the vote, Tremblay said the agreement “leaves things far too open and uncertain,” but declined to comment on the specifics of the deal, which is still in negotiations. Tremblay declined to comment further on his opposition to the deal. Thomas said adopting the agreement would “force us, effectively, to start all over again with a new process that could add, potentially, years of delays.” He also said he doubted the Archdiocese would accept the agreement. “It may indeed work, but I think it’s tenuous.”

Thomas said under the current tentative agreement, residents of Pointe-Claire will not have representation on the committee overseeing the restoration of the windmill. He also said the Archdiocese will need to front the cost of the project before receiving any reimbursement from the City.

Talks have been ongoing for decades to restore the windmill, which was built in 1709 and is owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal. The Archdiocese first pledged to restore the windmill in September 2022, with help from government partners and the City’s nearly $1 million contribution. Sticking points

viding referral and support to the Pointe-Claire specialneeds and disabled resident community.

In upcoming issues we will explore in depth and discuss in detail through a parts series: the statistics on the variety of residents with disabilities in our City, how funds are allocated towards these accommodations and supports, the work our City is doing towards establishing itself as a proactive and inclusive City and how all of us as residents could help empower and rally together in support of our fellow resident community, and much more.

Look for the first part of our series, starting in February!

Contributed by Maria Benavides. Maria is a mother of 2, living with deafness since early childhood. A passionate writer, volunteer and disability-rights activist and advocate, she lives in Pointe-Claire where she has resided for 26 years. When she is not writing or moderating the Friends of Pointe-Claire Citizens with Disabilities group she founded, she juggles her time educating and raising her youngest.

throughout the negotiations have included the right for the public to access the windmill site and the possibility of residents incurring long-term maintenance costs.

A previous tentative deal to restore the windmill, reached in 2022, was not accepted by council.

Councillor Claude Cousineau, who voted for the deal on Tuesday, said it was “not a perfect deal, but it is really the best deal for Pointe-Claire citizens and their tax dollars.”

The Archdiocese did not respond to a request for comment.

Mayor addresses December walkout

Also at the Jan. 16 council meeting, Mayor Thomas addressed council’s walkout at the Dec. 5 council meeting. At that meeting, several councillors walked out following an argument between council and the mayor. (Councillor Tremblay was absent from the meeting). The councillors returned several minutes later.

Following this dispute, Councillor Brent Cowan published an open letter calling for the mayor’s resignation.

The disagreement was related to the windmill restoration project, and to a perceived abuse of speaking privileges by the mayor. At the Jan. 16 meeting, Mayor Thomas argued he was within his rights as mayor during his Dec. 5 opening remarks on the windmill project.

Bylaw PC-2712 dictates rules for city council meetings, but says nothing about opening remarks by the mayor or councilors. “Yet remarkably, councilors left the chamber because of this and are justifying their departure from council chambers because I somehow broke rules and pro-

cont. on page 7

cedures that don’t exist,” said Mayor Thomas. “The rules governing all this don’t exist. So how could I have broken any rules? I don’t fully understand. Most importantly, does this kind of minor procedural disagreement merit a walk-

Wellness Zone: An Introduction to Wellness & Health

Hey folks of Pointe-Claire! Your friendly massage therapist here! Let me introduce myself. My name is April Ivess, and I have been practicing massage therapy in Pointe-Claire for 17 years!

I was asked to write a small article speaking on wellness and health. A topic I am extremely passionate about.

Any type of body work, massage therapy, osteopathy, or chiropractic, is a tune-up on your body. It just helps your overall health and well-being. Each body worker specializes in certain areas of the body, but we all affect the entire system.

For example, did you know massage therapists not only work on your muscles but also work with your nervous system, your circulation, and skin?!

Massage therapy helps reset muscle memory back to a state of relaxation and helps blood flow.

Are you feeling a little stressed or sore? Maybe it’s time to consider the incredible benefits of massage therapy.

For the Love of Pets

out and calls for resignation followed by an expensive byelection? I leave those thoughts with you folks.”

By Ian Down, Journalist

Whether you’re dealing with tight muscles from sitting at a desk all day or just in need of some much-deserved relaxation, massage therapy has got your back (literally).

Picture this: you walk into a serene room, soothing music playing in the background, and you’re greeted by a skilled massage therapist who’s about to work some serious magic on your muscles. From Swedish to deep tissue to hot stone, there are various massage techniques tailored to address your specific needs. It’s like a personalized treatment plan for your body.

It’s basically a win-win situation – you get to pamper yourself while reaping a whole bunch of health benefits. Plus, who doesn’t love the idea of zoning out for a bit and emerging feeling like a new person?

So, if you’re ready to prioritize self-care and give your body the TLC it deserves, scheduling a massage therapy session might just be the perfect step. Trust me, your body will thank you.”

If you need any more information, feel free to ask! Wishing you all a healthy day.

Contributed by April Ivess, Massage Therapist at Massotherapie Ivess

Let’s see some pics of your furry friends! Send your pet pics to pets@pcrecord.ca and we might publish it in our next edition.

Josie Babou Teddy Zipper

PCCA Holiday Decorations Photo Contest Winners

Congratulations to the winners of our Holiday Decorations Photo Contest and thank you to the local businesses that contributed these great prizes:

- 19 Parkland: $100 gift certificate - Livres Babar Books

- 57 Aurora: $25 gift certificate - Ted’s Hobby Shop

- 91 Parkdale: $100 gift certificate - 40 Westt

- 124 Stillview: $25 gift certificate - Emma’s Pizzeria

- 145 Sunderland: $30 8” cake - Swiss Vienna Patisserie

- 180 Dieppe: $25 gift certificate - Studio 77

- 501 Donegani: $50 gift certificate - Ryan’s Candies

19 Parkland

57 Aurora

91 Parkdale

124 Stillview 145 Sunderland

180 Dieppe 501 Donegani

About the Pointe-Claire Citizens’ Association (PCCA)

The PCCA was formed in 2022 to foster and promote citizenship among residents of Pointe-Claire. Our aim is to strengthen the cultural, recreational, and social benefits we all enjoy as residents of this great city. We will work to achieve this by:

1. Building on our strong and shared sense of community;

2. Enhancing public understanding of matters that are of common concern;

3. Coordinate, and cooperate as necessary, with City Council and other organizations, with common goals, in promoting the general good of the community;

4. Propose ideas to City Council, as required, in support

Calculating Property Value

Want to understand how the value of your property, building or lot is calculated? Find out everything you need to know about the factors that influence its value.

Property values that appear on the assessment roll correspond to the property’s exchange value on the free and open market. It is the most probable selling price paid by a potential buyer in a private sale.

Factors

that influence the value of your property

To determine the market value of a property, the city appraiser takes into account real estate market condi-

The Kitchen: Barry’s Oink Rub

Ingredients

- 3 tbsp cayenne

- 5 tbsp smoked paprika

- 5 tbsp granulated garlic

- 3 tbsp dried oregano

- 3 tbsp dried thyme

of specific projects and goals of the Association;

5. Providing, where possible, City Council and the public with community-sourced information, data and statistics to help raise awareness and expertise that will usefully contribute to informed decision-making; Helping empower citizens to be able to best represent themselves before municipal decision-making bodies. In doing so, the PCCA aspires to enhance PointeClaire’s leadership as a responsible member of the broader Montreal Metropolitan Community, and in Quebec, Canada, and the world.

Visit us at: https://www.pointeclaire.info or follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acpc.pcca

By the PCCA Executive past and present

tions for the 18-month period prior to the coming into force of the assessment roll. For the 2023-2024-2025 rolls, this date is July 1, 2021.

The main factors that determine value are: location; lot area; size of the building(s); age of the property, adjusted to account for any renovations or major additions; quality of the construction; income generated by the property, if applicable.

For more information, visit the City of Montreal web site: https://montreal.ca/en/topics/calculating-property-value

Source: City of Montréal

- 1 tbsp dried mustard

- 3 tbsp onion powder

- 3 tbsp kosher salt

- 1 tbsp black pepper

- 1 tbsp ground ginger

- 1 tbsp cumin - 1 tbsp dried chipotle

Directions

Pulse 3 times in a food processor then store in a shaker. Oink rub is all you need for ribs, pork chops or pork shoulder. If preparing ribs, apply 24 hours ahead of time then store in the fridge in a large plastic bag. The next day re-apply oink rub before slow cooking ribs at 250 degrees for 3 hours.

By Barry Christensen, Grillmaster

PC Record Contacts

General Questions and Info: info@pcrecord.ca

Get involved, submit an article or feedback on past articles. Nous encourageons la contribution des articles en français également ! editor@pcrecord.ca

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