Pointe-Claire Record February 2024

The Pointe-Claire Record

Thank you!

We are very happy to be publishing the second issue of The Pointe-Claire Record! We could not have done it without all of you - the readers, contributors, editors, and supporters. The response to our first issue last month was very positive, and we truly appreciate all the kind words of encouragement that we received. In addition, we got some great feedback on how to improve, and we listened. It has become clearer than ever that Pointe-Claire has a strong, vibrant, diverse community. We may each, individually, be exposed to certain aspects of the city, such as sports, arts & culture, parks, the water, senior care, disabilities services, food & drink, religion, politics, environment, pets, and many more. However, we are all connected by a common past, with hundreds of years of history, and a shared future together. Where we end up depends on what we all do today. It is with this in mind that we are more excited than ever to build this newspaper… FOR the community BY the community.

As we grow, we hope to be able to offer something to everyone. Based on our goals and the feedback, we have added content for sports, restaurants, the environment, our history, and more. We have also focused on adding French content, and additional editing to ensure a high-quality newspaper. As always, we are a non-profit, volunteer group trying to do our best in the city we all love. We hope that you enjoy this second issue of The Pointe-Claire Record! Let us know what you think: editor@pcrecord.ca

Jonathan Csakany, on behalf of the PC Record Team

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Nous sommes très heureux d’avoir publié la deuxième édition du Pointe-Claire Record ! Nous n’aurions pas pu le faire sans vous tous - les lecteurs, les contributeurs, les rédacteurs et les supporters. La réaction à notre première édition le mois dernier a été très positive, et nous apprécions vraiment tous les mots d’encouragement que nous avons reçus. En outre, nous avons reçu d’excellents commentaires sur les améliorations à apporter, et nous les avons écoutés. Il est devenu plus clair que jamais que Pointe-Claire possède une communauté forte, dynamique et diversifiée. Nous pouvons tous, individuellement, être exposés à certains aspects de la ville, comme les sports, les arts et la culture, les parcs, l’eau, les soins aux personnes âgées, les services aux personnes handicapées, la nourriture et les boissons, la religion, la politique, l’environnement, les animaux de compagnie et bien d’autres choses encore. Cependant, nous sommes tous liés par un passé commun, avec des centaines d’années d’histoire, et par un avenir commun. Notre avenir dépend de ce que nous faisons tous aujourd’hui. C’est dans cet esprit que nous sommes plus enthousiastes que jamais à l’idée de construire ce journal... POUR la communauté, PAR la communauté.

Au fur et à mesure de notre développement, nous espérons pouvoir offrir quelque chose à chacun. Sur la base de nos objectifs et des commentaires reçus, nous avons ajouté du contenu sur les sports, les restaurants, l’environnement, notre histoire et bien plus encore. Nous avons également mis davantage l’accent sur l’ajout de contenu en français et sur une révision plus poussée afin de garantir un journal de haute qualité. Comme toujours, nous sommes un groupe de bénévoles à but non lucratif qui essaie de faire de son mieux dans la ville que nous aimons tous. Nous espérons que vous apprécierez cette deuxième édition du Pointe-Claire Record !

Faites-nous part de vos commentaires : editor@pcrecord.ca

An initiative of the Pointe-Claire Citizens’ Association - www.pointeclaire.info

Jonathan Csakany, au nom de l’équipe PC Record

Into the Past: Beads in a Necklace

From 1959 and for 6 years, as a novice nun, Joan of Arc House in Ottawa was Claire’s home, so it was not an easy decision to leave it behind. Her father picked her up on March 25th, 1965, and 2 days later she began teaching Grade 1 in Richmond, Quebec. She never regretted her decision. She retired from teaching in 1998, her last teaching position being in Pierrefonds.

Claire Lindell

Claire is the 8th generation on her mother’s side of the family to reside in Pointe Claire.

Her 7th great grandmother Anne Heard was born in 1681 in Dover, New Hampshire. Anne was abducted twice by the Abenaki, the first time in 1690, but was rescued quickly.

The second time was in 1692, when she was 11 years old, during the Candlemas Massacre, when 73 people were taken prisoner and the Abenaki kept Anne for a year. She was then brought to Montreal and purchased by a gunsmith named Pierre Prud’homme and his wife, Anne Chales, whom she lived with as a servant.

She married in 1705 to Sebastian Laviolette a weaver, in Notre Dame Church. He started buying land outside of the city gates of Montreal, and in 1707 he bought a parcel of land in what is now known as Valois Bay.

They moved into their new home in 1714. Today that land would be near Baie de Valois Street, towards the west of the Valois Bay. The land faced the water, and the house was built on the north side of the Chemin de Roy. This was the same year that the Chemin de Roy

Into the Past (cont.)

was opened, now Bord du Lac/ Lakeshore Road. Their lives were not without heartache, between 1711 and 1720 they witnessed the deaths of seven of their children. Anne’s 11th child, Jacques was born in 1723. Only the first 3 children and Jacques survived to adulthood.

In 1728 Sebastian died at the age of 49, leaving Anne financially stable. Three years later she married Claude

Picard at St. Joachim Church, in Pointe Claire. Claude died in 1739 and Anne lived with her youngest son Jacques until she died on January 2nd, 1750, at the age of 69. She is buried in Pointe Claire.

Contributed by Claire Lindell. She is a Pointe Claire resident, and a contributor to Beads in a Necklace: Stories from Genealogy Ensemble. She contributes to a website with a group of friends in Montreal, Quebec who meet on a regular basis to discuss genealogy research and brick walls. genealogyensemble.com

An Endangered Short: Built by Giants

Pointe-Claire’s water tower, while no longer owned by the City of Pointe-Claire, was built in 1955, an era filled with visionaries. They were my grandparents’ generation (the booming Boomers), and they were the ones who turned this little town and farming community into the city we enjoy today. They not only built for their generation and their children, but for their grandchildren & great-grandchildren as well.

What was to follow the construction of the water tower was truly a marvel of community unity, with shared goals that would build a city lasting for generations. Within the next 5 years, this generation would develop large portions of land into single-family home communities, with an abundance of outdoor parks, public swimming pools, new schools, shopping malls, a new city centre with a library, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, an arena, and much more. What was to follow the construction of the water tower was truly a marvel of community unity, with shared goals that would build a city lasting for generations. Within the next 5 years, this generation would develop large portions of land into single-family home communities, with an abundance of outdoor parks, public swimming pools, new schools, shopping malls, a new city centre with a library, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, an arena, and much more. This is why I say that our water tower is one of Pointe-Claire’s crown jewels and, from a historical perspective, one of the most important structures in our city. To see it off in the distance as I drive down our local streets is as mesmerizing to me as the views you get from the shoreline of Lake St. Louis.

Contributed by

Jason Bolanis,

owner of Terranian Productions and writer/director of the Endangered Stories series - www.jasonbolanis.com Jason Bolanis is the creator and host of the popular video series Endangered Stories, a passion project bringing to life the history of local communities in an engaging storytelling format. His attention to detail in visual composition and sound design are key elements of success in all his projects. We look forward to uncovering more about our past and discovering more Endangered Shorts from Jason.

View of watertower from Maywood Ave

View of watertower from Maywood Ave in 1980

Embrace the Electric Revolution: Top 5 Reasons to try an E-Bike this Summer

As the world of cycling continues to evolve, the buzz around electric bikes (e-bikes) is reaching new heights. Whether you are an avid cyclist or just someone looking to spice up your summer adventures, it’s time to consider hopping on the electric bandwagon. Here are the top 5 reasons to try an e-bike this summer and revolutionize the way you experience the great outdoors:

1. Effortless Exploration

Gone are the days of dreading steep hills or long distances. E-bikes empower riders of all fitness levels to effortlessly explore new terrains. With pedal-assist technology, you can conquer challenging landscapes without the need to exert yourself. Whether you are navigating city streets, cruising along scenic trails, or tackling mountainous paths, e-bikes provide an enjoyable and accessible way to explore the world around you.

2. Extended Adventures

Tired of cutting your rides short due to fatigue? One of the most compelling reasons to try an e-bike is the ability to extend your adventures. The electric assistance allows you to cover more ground in less time, opening up opportunities for longer rides and discovering hidden gems that might have been out of reach on a traditional bike. Say goodbye to worrying about running out of energy before reaching your destination – e-bikes make every journey a pleasure.

Around Town

Feb 27: Squash Evening at the Olive-Urquhart Sports Centre

Feb 28: Demystifying art – From sea to studio

Feb 29: Youth-Led Poetry Night

Mar 1: Board Game Night

3. Health and Fitness Boost

Contrary to popular belief, e-bikes don’t eliminate the need for physical exertion; instead, they enhance it. Riders can choose the level of assistance they need, enabling a customized workout that suits individual fitness goals. Whether you are recovering from an injury, getting back into shape, or simply want to enjoy outdoor activities with less strain, e-bikes provide an excellent option for maintaining and improving your health and fitness.

4. Sustainable Transportation

With a growing emphasis on eco-friendly practices, ebikes offer a sustainable mode of transportation that reduces your carbon footprint. By opting for an e-bike, you contribute to a cleaner environment and help alleviate traffic congestion. Embrace the future of urban commuting with electric bikes, combining efficiency and environmental consciousness for a smarter, greener lifestyle.

5. Fun for all Ages

E-bikes are not just for fitness enthusiasts; they cater to a wide demographic, making cycling accessible to all ages. From seniors looking for a low-impact activity to young professionals seeking a convenient and enjoyable commute, e-bikes provide an inclusive cycling experience. With the diverse range of e-bikes available today, there is a perfect fit for everyone, ensuring that the joy of cycling is shared across generations.

To conclude, as the cycling landscape evolves, e-bikes emerge as a game-changer, redefining the way we experience the outdoors. With Cycle Paul leading the charge, there is no better time to embrace the electric revolution and consider trying an e-bike this summer. Effortless exploration, extended adventures, health benefits, sustainability, and fun for all ages – the reasons to make the switch are as diverse as the terrain you will conquer.

Contributed by Pierre-Paul Schiltz, Cycle Paul

Mar 2: 60’s Invasion!

Mar 5: Hot Peppers Jazz Band!

Mar 9: Möntreal Crüe!

Mar 16: Whiskey tasting with Mathew

Mar 22: Dwane Dixon - solo !

Mar 27-Apr 7: U9-U11-U13 Hockey Tournament

Winter Carnival 2024

On January 27, people from all over Pointe-Claire gathered in Northview park to celebrate this year’s winter carnival. Here are some photos from the fun day. Thank you to all the hard working organizers who made this event possible.

Opinion: Agglomeration Taxes

In what seems like an annual event, Montreal suburbs were once again blindsided with a sharp increase in their agglomeration taxes. After the usual outbursts of indignation, the increases were absorbed into the budgets of the de-merged suburbs. Suburban councils were left to stew and wonder what surprises lay in store for next year’s budget. It has been said that beyond showing up at Agglo Council meetings and voting in the negative, there is nothing the suburban mayors can do. WRONG!!

Over five years ago, the suburban mayors announced they had reached an agreement with Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante that would see them integrated them into the budget process starting in 2020. What happened? At the time, the suburban mayors voiced their skepticism which time has proven to be well-founded. No matter continued on next page

Agglomeration Taxes (cont.)

her good intentions, if Valerie Plante ever had them, reality and political expediency have clearly intervened.

Five years ago I wrote in The Gazette that it would be virtually inevitable that Plante would use the power the law gives her to arbitrarily transfer a share of Montreal’s budget woes on to the suburbs. Montreal’s financial problems become our financial burden. As Mayor Thomas has indicated, having a seat at the Agglo Council in no way assures that he or any of the suburban mayors has any influence. He has said the ASM mayors speak and no one listens. They vote and no one pays attention. Of course, that’s simply the way things work in the real world. To have influence, you need a measure of real power which means the having the potential to consolidate a majority bloc. By Quebec law, the suburban mayors represent less than 20% of the Agglo Council, while Valérie Plante appoints well over 80% of that body’s voting power. Until this anomaly is corrected, Agglo budget planning will remain unaccountable to any but Montreal voters who will, naturally, be very pleased with any financial break they are given at the expense of all the other people who live in the suburbs.

Thankfully, there is an antidote to the poison pill foisted on us 18 years ago as the price of our so-called ‘independence’. We can demand – our mayor along with the other suburban mayors can demand – that the law be changed to finally allow truly representative democracy for all who live within the Montreal Agglo. As it stands, the Agglo Council is controlled by the Montreal mayor. There are a total of 30 members on the council, which she chairs. She appoints all 15 Montreal councillors to the body. The remaining positions are held by the mayors of the 14 suburbs plus one additional councillor from Dollard-des-Ormeaux appointed by that city’s mayor. Each councillor does not, however, get an equal say. Their votes are weighted by population. So, for example, if the Senneville mayor gets one vote, the mayor of Pointe-Claire gets about 32 and a councillor from

Opinion : Taxes payées à l’Agglomération

Dans ce qui semble être un événement annuel, les banlieues de Montréal ont une fois de plus été prises au dépourvu avec une forte augmentation de leurs quotes-parts

Montreal gets more than 100. All in all, the mayor of Montreal controls almost 90% of the votes on the Agglo Council. What she decides, carries. And she is herself accountable only to City of Montreal voters.

For our local democracy to flourish, it is essential that the demerged cities not be permanent losers, as Mayor Thomas has indicated we are, otherwise we are being played for suckers who pay into a system that heavily favours everybody else. The only way to ensure we are not permanent losers is to set it up so interests have the possibility of realigning, issue to issue. Then those losing now know they may be winners the next time around, if they can organize a coalition.

There is a simple solution. Rather than giving the mayor of Montreal the power to fill all of Montreal’s seats on the Agglo Council, the law should be changed to name each borough mayor to the Agglo Council just as the suburban mayors are appointed by virtue of their election. Structured in this way, Montreal’s representation would reflect the weighted interests of all its 19 boroughs. Many borough mayors would still share the partisan interests of the mayor of Montreal, but some would not. On some issues, certain borough mayors might find common ground with their suburban counterparts. So today’s losers could well be tomorrow’s winners. There’d be no more perpetual losers, no more suckers, and we’d all win at least some of the time.

So we can continue to rail against the injustice of an anti-democratic Agglo or we might actually try to do something about it. We should push the Quebec government to democratize the Agglo Council by making it a council of island mayors.

Contributed by Brent Cowan, Councillor, District 8 - Oneida

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this opinion article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board, the newspaper, or its staff. The newspaper provides a platform for diverse perspectives and encourages open dialogue on various issues. The publication of any opinion piece does not constitute an endorsement by the newspaper or its editors of the opinions expressed therein.

de l’Agglomération. Après les manifestations habituelles d’indignation, les augmentations ont été absorbées dans les budgets des municipalités défusionnées. Les conseils de banlieue ont été laissés à eux-mêmes pour se sont demandés quelles surprises les attendaient pour le budget de l’année prochaine. On a dit, qu’à part de se présenter aux réunions du Conseil d’Agglo et voter dans le négatif, les

suite à la prochaine page

Taxes payées (suite)

maires de banlieue ne pouvaient rien faire. FAUX !

Il y a plus de cinq ans, les maires de banlieue ont annoncé qu’ils avaient conclu un accord avec la maire de Montréal, Valérie Plante, qui prévoyait leur intégration dans le processus budgétaire à partir de 2020. Que s’est-il passé ? À l’époque, les maires de banlieue avaient exprimé leur scepticisme, qui s’est avéré fondé avec le temps. Quelles que soient ses bonnes intentions, si tant est que Valérie Plante en ait eu, la réalité et l’opportunisme politique sont manifestement intervenus.

Il y a cinq ans, j’ai écrit dans The Gazette qu’il serait pratiquement inévitable que Mme Plante utilise le pouvoir que lui confère la loi pour transférer arbitrairement une partie des problèmes budgétaires de Montréal aux banlieues. Les problèmes financiers de Montréal deviennent notre fardeau financier. Comme l’a indiqué le maire Thomas, le fait d’avoir un siège au conseil d’agglo ne garantit en rien que lui ou l’un des maires de banlieue ait une quelconque influence. Il a déclaré que les maires de l’ASM parlent et que personne ne les écoute. Ils votent et personne n’y prête attention. Bien sûr, c’est ainsi que les choses fonctionnent dans le monde réel. Pour avoir de l’influence, il faut avoir un certain pouvoir réel, c’est-à-dire avoir la possibilité de consolider un bloc majoritaire. Selon la loi québécoise, les maires de banlieue représentent moins de 20 % du conseil d’agglo, alors que Valérie Plante nomme bien plus de 80 % des voix de cet organe. Tant que cette anomalie n’aura pas été corrigée, la planification du budget de l’agglo ne rendra de comptes à personne d’autre qu’aux électeurs montréalais qui, naturellement, seront très heureux de tout allégement financier qui leur sera accordé aux dépens de tous les autres habitants de la banlieue. Heureusement, il existe un antidote à la pilule empoisonnée qui nous a été imposée il y a 18 ans comme prix de notre soi-disant “indépendance”. Nous pouvons exiger - notre maire et les autres maires de banlieue peuvent exiger - que la loi soit modifiée pour permettre enfin une véritable démocratie représentative pour tous ceux qui vivent dans l’agglo de Montréal. Dans l’état actuel des choses, le conseil d’agglo est contrôlé par le maire de Montréal. Le conseil compte au total 30 membres, sur lequel elle préside. Elle y nomme les 15 conseillers de Montréal. Les autres postes sont occupés par les maires des 14 banlieues et par un conseiller supplémentaire de Dollard-des-Ormeaux, nommé par le maire de cette ville. Chaque conseiller n’a cependant pas le même

poids de vote. Leurs votes sont pondérés en fonction de la population. Ainsi, par exemple, si le maire de Senneville obtient une voix, le maire de Pointe-Claire en obtient environ 32 et un conseiller de Montréal en obtient plus de 100. Au total, le maire de Montréal contrôle près de 90 % des votes au sein du conseil d’agglo. Ce qu’elle décide, elle l’impose. Et elle n’est elle-même responsable que devant les électeurs de la ville de Montréal.

Pour que notre démocratie locale s’épanouisse, il est essentiel que les villes défusionées ne soient pas des perdants permanents, comme le maire Thomas a déclaré que nous l’étions, sinon nous sommes pris pour des pigeons qui paient pour un système qui favorise fortement tous les autres. La seule façon de s’assurer que nous ne sommes pas des perdants permanents est de mettre en place le système de manière à ce que les intérêts aient la possibilité de se réaligner, d’une question à l’autre. Les perdants savent alors qu’ils peuvent être gagnants la prochaine fois, s’ils parviennent à organiser une coalition.

La solution est simple. Plutôt que de donner au maire de Montréal le pouvoir de nommer tous les postes de Montréal au conseil d’agglo, la loi devrait être modifiée pour nommer chaque maire d’arrondissement au conseil d’agglo, de la même façon que les maires de banlieue sont nommés en vertu de leur élection. Ainsi structurée, la représentation de Montréal refléterait les intérêts pondérés de l’ensemble de ses 19 arrondissements. De nombreux maires d’arrondissement partageraient encore les intérêts partisans du maire de Montréal, mais certains ne le feraient pas. Sur certains sujets, certains maires d’arrondissement pourraient trouver des intérêts communs avec leurs homologues de banlieue. Ainsi, les perdants d’aujourd’hui pourraient bien être les gagnants de demain. Il n’y aurait plus de perdants perpétuels, plus de nuls, et nous serions tous gagnants au moins quelque fois.

Dans un premier temps nous pouvons, donc, continuer à dénoncer l’injustice d’une agglo anti-démocratique avec l’effet nul ou, dans un deuxieme temps, nous pouvons essayer de faire quelque chose utile. Nous devrions pousser le gouvernement du Québec à démocratiser le conseil d’agglo en en faisant un conseil de maires de l’îles.

Contribution de Brent Cowan, Conseiller municipal, District 8 - Oneida

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this opinion article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board, the newspaper, or its staff. The newspaper provides a platform for diverse perspectives and encourages open dialogue on various issues. The publication of any opinion piece does not constitute an endorsement by the newspaper or its editors of the opinions expressed therein.

Our Take: Housing

Where we give you different perspectives, and our take.

Here we are next to a federally funded transit station. The local builder wants to develop housing in this unused parking lot. But local bureaucracy is blocking construction that would allow seniors and students to live next to a massive transit station that would take them to McGill university or the airport. (Quote from speech at Cadillac Fairview Pointe-Claire February 15, 2024)

Our Take

Pointe-Claire has done more than its fair share when it comes to building housing. We ended 2023 with more apartments and condos under construction, than all other 14 demerged suburbs. As for the REM station, Pointe-Claire citizens didn’t ask for it, and it will be of no benefit to most of them. (Facebook post February 15, 2024 in response to Poilievre speech)

The reality is that solving the housing crisis is not that simple. It’s not a federal versus municipal government problem. It’s not caused, nor fixed, by any one person. It is a result of multiple factors: economic, immigration, supply and demand and governmental, to name a few. Our national housing problem is complicated.

The Green Line

Seedy Intentions

In mid-November last year, I set my vegetable garden to bed for the winter and in doing so, I sighed a great sigh of both relief and satisfaction. I experienced another year of trials and errors, of tremendous harvests, including a bumper crop of butternut squash, and semifailures in the form of rodent-eaten potatoes, of hardearned lessons (head’s up, Tomato Hornworms are awful) and celebrations in the form of a pantry filled with jars of homegrown tomato based sauce. Despite this roller coaster and the late fall gardening fatigue, it is early February and I am starting to feel the itch to get my hands dirty again. As Josephine Nuese so eloquently put it, my gardening journey always starts with the dream, and right now I am dreaming of seeds and the vast selection of varieties I have to choose from.

As I write this, I am gearing up to sort through my seed stash in preparation for the yearly Seedy Weekend

event, which took place earlier this month, February 3rd and 4th, at the Montreal Planetarium. Attending these types of events is a gardener’s dream, even if it can admittedly be a slightly tortuous experience as well. With such a huge selection how does one choose the ‘right’ seeds to buy? With my personal experience in mind, I’ve put together a short list of things to consider before you purchase them because believe me, it is incredibly easy to get carried away with the ‘dream’:

1) Consider what vegetables you already like to eat. Our family goes through a lot of lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, peppers and herbs, so I make sure I’m stocking up on those types of seeds first. We eat a bucketload of garlic that I also grow, but it’s grown differently than regular seeds, so I won’t discuss it here.

2) Consider the variety of each fruit (to be biologically correct) or vegetable you want to grow. Every type of cucumber or tomato is not created the same. Pickcontinued on next page

Tim Thomas, Mayor of Pointe-Claire

Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Opposition

ling cucumbers are NOT the same as field cucumbers. For example, Italian tomato varieties are more meaty and best for sauce, while slicing tomatoes are better for sandwiches. Furthermore, some varieties grow taller or

3) Consider the length of the growing season and the zone in which you live. Seed packets will tell you how long a particular plant needs from germination to being ready for harvest, under average conditions. In Montreal, we average approximately 150 growing days between our last frost date of May 3rd and first frost date in early October. You can, of course, extend this growing season by starting seeds indoors. Frost-free dates are correlated to the gardening zone where you live.

4) If you are ordering seed packages online, consider where the seed company operates. Some seeds have been grown and are adapted to the conditions of the location in which they are grown. I would, for example, not purchase seeds from Arizona. When in doubt, stick with local seed vendors. I’ve had great success with seeds from Ferme Cooperative Tourne-Sol, Les Jardins de l’écoumène, and Terre Promise to name a few.

5) Last, but certainly not least, consider how much space you have to grow your seeds. I will readily admit that I have fallen into the trap of my gardening eyes being bigger than my growing abilities. I always start more seedlings than I have room for, but at least they are very easily bartered, and you’ll almost always find someone to take on your extra plant babies should you need it.

Finally, once you have purchased seeds, be aware that they have a shelf life. Lettuce, parsnip and onion seeds are very short-lived, lasting about a year, whereas tomato and cucumber seeds can stay viable for many, many years.

Most of the information you need to consider about the above items should be available online or on the seed packet. At first, it may seem like trying to solve a complicated math problem, but don’t panic. In case of confusion, I can promise you that local gardeners are a kind and helpful bunch of people, so don’t hesitate to ask them for advice! For a little extra help, here is a link to a planting calendar that will help you plan when to start your seeds.

Gardening is a journey that may never be perfect but that will always offer you growth, in both senses of the word. I think that purchasing seeds is an affordable and easy way to get that journey started and I hope you feel the same way too. Happy growing!

Contributed by Geneviève Lussier Geneviève Lussier is a dedicated educator with a B. Ed. in elementary childhood education, who is not only shaping young minds but also leading the charge for environmental stewardship and community activism. From her family’s household of activists to her passion for crafting and gardening, Geneviève embodies a holistic approach to living sustainably and fostering connections within her community. Whether she’s teaching knitting at the Pointe-Claire library or preserving food from her garden, Geneviève’s boundless optimism and unwavering belief in the power of community shine through, inspiring those around her to embrace positive change and collective responsibility.

Pointe-Claire Family Takes on the Live Net Zero Challenge

With climate change accelerating and greenhouse gas emissions driving it, the Proulx-Coll family of Cedar Park wanted to do their part. “We love outdoor activities,” said Jess Coll, addressing a group of West Islanders on a recent Sunday, “we want to make sure nature is still there for our kids and their kids one day.”

It started with an email from Canadian Geographic Magazine in the spring of 2023 calling for video applications to take part in the challenge. Rather than deleting it, Jess pitched it to the family – wouldn’t it be fun to make a

video about us and what we’re doing for the environment? Expecting it to end there, she submitted the video. Instead, they were accepted as finalists in the challenge.

The competition pits eight families from across Canada against each other in a bid to cut household greenhouse gas emissions. Challenges target some of the more carbonintensive aspects of our daily lives such as commuting, homes and holidays. The winning family will take home a $50,000 prize to be awarded on the basis of the steps taken

continued on next page

Live Net Zero Challenge (cont.)

to reduce emissions, as well as the quality of their videos, overall creativity, their engagement and social media reaction. Jess, her partner Oli Proulx, and their children Sasha (11), Flo (9) and Cedric (5), are the only Quebec finalists.

The biggest change you’ll notice walking by the ProulxColl house is that they have traded in their camping trailer for a tent and given up their second vehicle. “The hardest part has been the communication,” said Oli, when I spoke to him after the talk. “We really need to stay on top of everyone’s work and extracurricular activities to make sure we can get them where they need to be.”

But small changes can make a big difference too. Sasha, who is in Grade 6 at École Marguerite-Bourgeoys, had heard that air fryers are more efficient than large ovens, so she decided to do an experiment. She made a batch of potatoes and put half in the air fryer and half in the oven. The result: the air fryer used only half the electricity (and half the time) of the oven!

The family has also made a host of changes around their 100-year-old Cedar Park house, from lowering the temperature, to placing insulating film on the windows, to installing a “jacket” on their water heater.

That said, climate change is bigger than just individual households. While the Proulx-Colls were enthusiastic about a low-carbon Christmas, hand-made gifts wrapped in reusable fabric took some explaining. “I think our attitudes about consumption need to change at a societal level,” said Oli. Nonetheless, the level of engagement, whether on social media or in person, has been one of the highlights of the challenge. The welcome on Sunday morning was especially warm, as members shared their tips on the finer points of composting and some of the difficulties they’ve encountered in larger residential buildings.

The challenge wraps up on February 28th. In the meantime, you can follow them on Instagram (@jessica.eve. coll). Points are awarded for social media engagement, so you might just help bring the prize home to Pointe-Claire.

Contributed by David McLauchlan

My Community or my Backyard?

Rules and by-laws help to make Pointe-Claire a beautiful place to live. Rules and by-laws can also make it a frustrating place to live. Have you ever had a permit refused by the city, or been fined for doing something you didn’t know was wrong? Or maybe you have a damaged tree on your property that the city told you cannot be removed.

That’s exactly what happened to Oneida resident John Kilpatrick after his tree suffered damage in last April’s ice storm. Mr. Kilpatrick’s concern is that the damaged tree will fall and hurt someone. He paid for a city-recommended arborist who suggested the tree be pruned back 40% and cabled, costing him up to $4000, almost double what it costs to fell the tree. The city by-law says a tree can be felled if it is a danger, and that pruning (20%) and guying (not cabling) would not make it safe. If cabling and 40% pruning is recommended, there seems to be a disconnect between the by-law and the decision the city made regarding Mr. Kilpatrick’s tree.

The city states: “Our aim is to minimize the felling of highquality trees.” With good reason: trees improve the quality of our air and water, reduce flooding and erosion, provide shade and privacy for us all, plus they beautify our surroundings. However, Pointe-Claire’s tree laws are extreme compared to other cities like Toronto or Ottawa which only

start restricting the felling of trees when they are 30 cm in diameter, three times larger than the 10 cm restriction in our own by-laws. And did you know you cannot even trim your trees unless it is in accordance with standards laid out by the Bureau de normalisation du Québec?

Mr Kilpatrick’s tree, photo by J Kilpatrick ©️2023 So, what’s a good citizen to do? We choose to live in this community surrounded by our neighbours, and that requires balancing personal needs with the needs of othcontinued on next page

My Community or ... (cont.)

ers. But when do we put our own preferences aside and trust in the expertise of our governing body? And when do city rules become overreach?

At the February 6th City Council meeting, Mr. Kilpatrick again appealed to the mayor for his understanding and a different response to the situation regarding his damaged tree. Mayor Tim Thomas replied: “You already have a decision on this matter. I trust and respect our professional arborists, and that is our decision.”

Fair enough, but trust and respect come with time and experience. The city arborist assessing Mr. Kilpatrick’s tree never even walked to his front door to speak with him to justify that respect or to gain his trust. We should be able to trust the decisions made by our city, but sometimes we feel disrespected by what looks like unfair applications of the tree zoning by-laws.

Another resident’s mature tree, damaged in last April’s storm, was cut down in the first week of February. From the stump and limbs it appears to have been a very healthy tree, but there is one big difference: it’s on city property. Haven’t we have all seen trees cut down on lots undergoing demolition and new construction? Yes, the owners replant new trees, but they are only a fraction of the size of those they replace.

If the city wants to preserve mature trees for the benefit of all Pointe-Claire residents, why is it allowing some to be felled, but not others? And why can’t the city offset some of the cost for homeowners who are refused permits to fell and instead must cable their trees?

I asked the city what recourse a resident has in a situation where they feel they have received an unfair ruling. Can they appeal the decision? Could they cut down a tree and risk a fine, the way certain businesses do, to get around government rules that negatively impact them?

Lucie Lamoureux, Director of Communications for Pointe-Claire, was generous with her time in replying to all of my questions. She wrote: “The gateway for re-

Council Highlights for Feb 6

Inglewood resident warns of traffic danger

A resident of Inglewood Avenue is calling on the City and police to intervene to mitigate what she says is a dangerous traffic situation on her street.

questing a review of a decision rendered depends on the characteristics of the project and the nature of the work to be carried out. A notice of offense would be issued in the case of felling a tree without authorization. Subsequently, the municipality will then take the matter to the appropriate Court of justice.”

She also added that “in all cases, Public Works carries out an analysis of the project and formulates recommendations to optimize the canopy and ensure biodiversity, taking into account the characteristics of the project and the lot.”

There appears to be no simple way to appeal Mr. Kilpatrick’s permit refusal. And the responsibility for securing and preserving this tree for the benefit of all of us falls squarely on Mr. Kilpatrick’s shoulders. This creates a conflict between an individual’s rights and the benefits for the community. When viewed through the larger context of power outages and storms we cannot control, rising taxes and a lack of affordable housing, the economic slowdown and inflation, it’s no wonder that some of us are not keen to put the needs of the wider community above our own, occasionally.

When it comes to our private property, we may have vastly different preferences and budgets, and when the city refuses our requests to modify it, it can be very frustrating. It’s easy to wonder “why can that tree be cut down but not mine? Why must I spend thousands on maintaining a tree, but the city can just cut theirs down?” The city aims to protect individual citizens and the community as a whole by maintaining mature trees, so perhaps they could contribute some resources to do that, either with rebates or having Public Works do the cabling.

Running a city means there will always be some folks who are unhappy. Pointe-Claire does a good job of preserving what’s important and beautiful, for a greener and healthier future, for all of us. But these same rules always evolve and change based on the needs of the community. Our hope is that the city continues to listen to its individual residents while planning for the future we all share.

Contributed by Caroline Speirs, PCCA

Speaking at question period on Feb. 6, Johanne Klove, who lives on Inglewood near Felix-Leclerc High School, raised the alarm about traffic on the street.

Inglewood is used as parking for staff at the Lakeshore General Hospital and for employees of the school. This, combined with the 203 bus route, high traffic from parcontinued on next page

Council Highlights (cont.)

ents picking up their children from the school, and traffic from Lakeshore and Statcare employees, is creating a dangerous situation, according to Klove.

“There’s hundreds and hundreds of cars coming to pick up the children,” she said.

“I think there’s an immediate danger.”

Mayor Thomas said he would like to see the police get involved. But Klove said although the police are prompt, “I don’t think that can affect a long term change. I don’t think a big long term change can [happen] without your involvement.” Klove could not be reached for comment in time for publication.

Pointe-Claire residents pressure council to support Gaza ceasefire

Several Pointe-Claire residents have called on the City to support a ceasefire in Gaza.

During a regular council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 6, several residents rose during question period to call on council to formally advocate for a ceasefire.

Although Mayor Tim Thomas called a ceasefire a “nobrainer,” he stopped short of committing the City to supporting a ceasefire. “The whole international affairs world

is headed by experts who are trained to do it,” he said. “We can weigh in and make comments, [but] are we sufficiently informed? Do we understand the issues well enough?”

“It’s hard to comment on things of such in-depth magnitude.”

The war in Gaza has now raged for more than four months, leaving nearly 28,000 Palestinians dead, according to local health authorities. About 100 Israeli hostages are still being held in Gaza, according to the Associated Press.

City awards contract related to preservation of shorelines

Also on Tuesday, council awarded a contract of more than $700,000 to Stantec, Inc. to conduct an environmental impact study related to the preservation of the city’s public shorelines. The City has been working to protect its more than 4,200 metres of public shoreline since 2016, and has targeted 2,500 metres of shoreline for protection, according to the City’s website.

City purchasing new wheeled bins

Residents of Pointe-Claire may soon be getting new wheeled bins for waste removal. On Tuesday, council awarded a contract of more than $500,000 for the distribution and repair of wheeled bins. According to the call for tenders, this contract is for the years 2024-2026, and includes two options for renewal.

By Ian Down, Journalist

Making the Dream of Home Ownership a Little More Attainable: How to

Leverage an FHSA, TFSA, and RRSP

Are you dreaming of owning your first home? Putting aside money for a down payment can be challenging, but fortunately there are savings options designed specifically to help you achieve this goal. In this article, we will touch on some of the benefits and features of the various savings tools available to Canadians, including the relatively new First Home Savings Account (FHSA), introduced in April of 2023.

What is a First Home Savings Account (FHSA)?

The FHSA is a specialized, registered savings plan available to Canadians, specifically designed for the purpose of buying their first home. An FHSA could be considered a hybrid version of a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). Similar to a TFSA, the FHSA allows your money to grow tax-free, and without being taxed at the time

of withdrawal. Coincidentally, like an RRSP, the funds contributed to an FHSA can be tax deductible.

The process of withdrawing funds from an FHSA has specific requirements and conditions. For example, the withdrawal can only be used for the purpose of purchasing or building a qualifying home, and you may need to provide documentation to prove eligibility.

One of the key benefits of the FHSA is the tax advantage it offers. The money you save in an FHSA can grow faster than in a regular savings account, where you are subject to taxation on the interest earned. When combined strategically with a RRSP and a TFSA, an FHSA can further enhance your saving power and potential.

The Pros and Cons of RRSPs vs. FHSAs

First-time home buyers can use up to $35,000 from their continued on next page

Making the Dream (cont.)

RRSP savings towards a down payment. They then have up to 15 years to pay back the amount withdrawn before being taxed. The repayments only take effect at the start of the second year following the home purchase. The disadvantage of the RRSP is that the money must be in the account for a minimum of 90 days before it can be withdrawn.

An aspiring homeowner can contribute a maximum of $8,000 a year to an FHSA, up to a lifetime limit of $40,000. Once the account is created, the holder has 15 years to use the savings, after which time the account must be closed and the funds, if unused, may be subject to taxes.   Depending on the situation, it might be better to choose the FHSA rather than use the RRSP to fund a down payment. However, in some cases, a combination of the two might prove to be the ideal solution, as long as you meet all the requirements at the time of each withdrawal.

In addition to the tax advantages, an FHSA also provides incentives and grants to further boost your savings. For example, the Government of Canada offers a First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit that allows eligible individuals to claim a non-refundable tax credit on closing costs associated with purchasing a home. FHSA holders can also take advantage of various government-funded programs and grants to assist with their down payment.

Flexible Saving Options

An FHSA offers flexible saving options to suit your financial situation and goals. You can choose to contrib-

ute a lump-sum amount or make regular contributions, depending on what works best for you. Some financial institutions may also offer the option to invest your FHSA funds in various investment products to potentially achieve higher returns over the long term. It’s important to review the investment options and associated risks before making any investment decisions.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to use an FHSA, you must be a Canadian resident, at least 18 years old, and a first-time home buyer. The definition of a first-time home buyer can vary, so it’s essential to consult with your financial institution to determine if you meet the eligibility requirements.

Making the Dream a Reality

Becoming a homeowner is a significant milestone in one’s life, and these various tools provide a valuable opportunity to make that dream come true. It’s essential to carefully evaluate the terms and conditions of each option offered by different financial and wealth management institutions to determine the best fit for your individual needs. Start saving for your dream home today and turn your home ownership aspirations into a reality! At Team Broady, we hold a special place in our hearts for putting new buyers into their first home. If you would like to start the process of owning your first home or if you know anyone who is thinking about buying or selling a property, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today, we can be reached at 514-613-2988 or by email at info@teambroady.ca.

Contributed by Catherine Broady, Real Estate Broker, Team Broady

Rendre le rêve de devenir propriétaire un peu plus atteignable : Comment tirer parti d’un CELIAPP, d’un CELI

ou d’un REER

Vous rêvez d’acheter votre première propriété? Mettre de l’argent de côté pour un paiement initial peut s’avérer un défi, mais heureusement, il existe des options d’épargne conçues précisément pour atteindre cet objectif. Dans cet article, nous aborderons certains des avantages et des caractéristiques des divers outils d’épargne offerts aux Canadiens, y compris le récent compte d’épargne libre d’impôt pour l’achat d’une première propriété (CELIAPP), entré en vigueur en avril 2023.

Qu’est-ce qu’un compte d’épargne libre d’impôt pour l’achat d’une première propriété (CELIAPP)?

Le CELIAPP est un plan d’épargne spécialisé enregistré offert aux Canadiens et il est spécialement conçu dans l’objectif d’acheter une première propriété. Un CELIAPP peut être considéré comme une version hybride d’un régime enregistré d’épargne-retraite (REER) et d’un compte d’épargne libre d’impôt (CELI). Comme pour un CELI, le CELIAPP permet à votre argent de suite à la prochaine page

Rendre le rêve (suite)

fructifier à l’abri de l’impôt et sans être imposé au moment du retrait. Parallèlement, comme pour un REER, les fonds déposés dans un CELIAPP peuvent être déductibles d’impôt.

Le processus de retrait de fonds d’un CELIAPP comporte certaines exigences et conditions. Par exemple, le retrait peut seulement être utilisé à des fins d’acheter ou de construire une maison admissible et il est possible que vous deviez fournir de la documentation pour en prouver l’admissibilité.

Un des principaux avantages du CELIAPP est sa souplesse fiscale. L’argent épargné dans un CELIAPP peut fructifier plus rapidement que dans un compte épargne, où il est sujet à l’impôt sur l’intérêt gagné. Combiné stratégiquement avec un REER et un CELI, un CELIAPP peut faire augmenter encore plus votre pouvoir et votre potentiel d’épargne.

Le pour et le contre du REER par rapport au CELIAPP

Les personnes qui en sont à leur premier achat peuvent utiliser jusqu’à 35 000 $ de leur épargne dans un REER pour un paiement initial. Ils ont ensuite jusqu’à 15 ans pour rembourser le montant retiré avant qu’il soit imposé. Le remboursement n’entre en vigueur qu’après le début de la deuxième année suivant l’achat de la maison. Le désavantage du REER est que l’argent doit être au minimum 90 jours dans le compte avant de pouvoir le retirer.

Un aspirant propriétaire peut cotiser un maximum de 8 000 $ par année dans un CELIAPP, le plafond à vie étant de 40 000 $. Une fois le compte créé, le titulaire du compte a 15 ans pour utiliser l’épargne, après quoi le compte doit être fermé et les fonds, s’ils ne sont pas utilisés, peuvent être imposables.

En fonction de la situation, il peut être préférable de choisir le CELIAPP plutôt que d’utiliser le REER afin de financer un paiement initial. Cependant, dans certains cas, une combinaison des deux pourrait s’avérer être la solution idéale, tant que vous répondez à toutes les exigences au moment de chaque retrait.

En plus des avantages fiscaux, un CELIAPP offre aussi des incitatifs et des subventions afin de gonfler votre épargne. Par exemple, le Gouvernement du Canada offre un crédit d’impôt pour l’achat d’une première habitation qui permet aux personnes admissibles de réclamer un crédit d’impôt non remboursable sur les

coûts de clôture associés à l’achat d’une habitation. Les détenteurs d’un CELIAPP peuvent aussi profiter de divers programmes et subventions financés par le gouvernement afin de les aider avec leur paiement initial. Options d’épargne flexibles

Un CELIAPP offre des options d’épargne flexibles qui conviennent à votre situation financière et vos objectifs. Vous pouvez décider de cotiser un montant forfaitaire ou de faire des contributions régulières, selon ce qui fonctionne le mieux pour vous. Certaines institutions peuvent aussi offrir l’option d’investir les fonds de votre CELIAPP dans divers produits d’investissement afin de potentiellement obtenir des résultats accrus à long terme. Il est important d’examiner les options d’investissements et les risques associés avant de prendre des décisions d’investissement.

Critères d’admissibilité

Afin d’être admissible pour utiliser un CELIAPP, vous devez être un résident canadien, avoir au moins dix-huit ans et acheter une première habitation. La définition d’un acheteur d’une première habitation peut varier, il est donc essentiel de consulter votre institution financière afin de déterminer si vous répondez aux exigences d’admissibilité.

Faire du rêve une réalité

Devenir un propriétaire est une étape importante dans la vie d’une personne et ces outils variés peuvent vous donner une bonne occasion de faire de votre rêve une réalité. Il est essentiel de bien évaluer les conditions de chaque option offerte par les diverses institutions financières et de gestion de patrimoine afin de déterminer ce qui convient le mieux à vos besoins individuels.  Commencez à épargner aujourd’hui pour votre maison de rêve et concrétisez vos ambitions de devenir propriétaire! L’Équipe Broady a à cœur d’accompagner les nouveaux acheteurs dans leur nouvelle habitation. Si vous souhaitez entamer le processus pour acquérir votre première habitation ou si vous connaissez quelqu’un qui pense acheter ou vendre une propriété, n’hésitez pas à communiquer avec nous dès aujourd’hui. Vous pouvez nous appeler au 514-613-2988 ou nous écrire à info@teambroady.ca.

Contribution par Catherine Broady, Courtière immobilière, l’Équipe Broady

The Three Branches of Municipal Governance and their Interaction

Both in social media and at public Council meetings, there have been many questions asked and comments made about who has power, when it is exercised, and how decisions are made within a municipality. This article is intended as a brief explanation.

The three branches of municipal governance are the administration, the elected mayor, and Council (eight elected councillors and the mayor).

The administration is led by the Director General (DG) who manages all city employees. They report to the mayor and follow his/her instructions, as well as ensuring that all rules of governance are followed and respected (these are established by both the Government of Quebec and resolutions/by-laws adopted by Council.

The elected Mayor is basically, in business terms, the CEO and/or the President of the Board of Directors, as if they were acting on behalf of a company. As a fulltime job, he/she oversees and guides the DG in his/her management of the city in all files, and establishes the agenda for plenary/Caucus meetings of Council. This is a weekly meeting where files are reviewed and discussed before being voted upon in public. Though the Mayor has a vote if he/she so chooses on any decision made, each and every one of the eight City Councillors also has a vote, and however the majority votes is the final decision. As cited in the “Manuel des élu(e)s municipaux / municipales”, Chapter 1.5.1.1, the mayor has over 30 distinct powers. However, the two most important powers are in the chart below, as stated by the UMQ (Union des municipalités du Québec) and are his/her primary responsibilities. As well, only the mayor, not any individual councillor, has the authority to directly task the administration to perform certain duties.

The nine members of Council (eight elected Councillors and the Mayor) are tasked as the ultimate decision-

PCVCA E-Waste for Food

Do you have old electronics gathering dust at home? Bring us your electronics and we’ll recycle them responsibly with the help of CFER Ouest to save the planet! But wait, there’s more! In exchange for your contribu-

making body. Any decision that is made, whether it be a by-law/resolution or the creation of a bike path, requires that a democratic vote be taken by Council.

Please note that, while the DG runs the city and reports to the Mayor, the DG must also legally abide by the resolutions/by-laws that are democratically voted upon by a majority of Council, and to which the administration must rigorously adhere. Majority rules!

This may be best explained by a simple example such as choosing the color of garbage bins. Let’s say the administration recommends blue garbage bins, but the mayor expresses a preference for green garbage bins. The mayor’s choice - green garbage bins - would prevail. However, if Council wishes to publicly support the administration’s recommendation - blue garbage bins - a vote would be called, and if supported by a majority of Council, the bins would now be blue, and that decision would be binding and final.

Thus, the ultimate power of the municipal decisionmaking process lies with Council (as a decision-making body, not as individuals). I believe that this democratic decisional mechanism achieves the required balance for day-to-day decisions and those which are more complex and require more attention.

I hope this explains the interactions between the 3 branches of municipal governance. If you have any other questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Contributed by Eric Stork, Councillor for District 7 – Northview

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this opinion article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board, the newspaper, or its staff. The newspaper provides a platform for diverse perspectives and encourages open dialogue on various issues. The publication of any opinion piece does not constitute an endorsement by the newspaper or its editors of the opinions expressed therein.

tion, we’re collecting non-perishable food to support the On Rock Food Bank!

It’s a win-win situation! Declutter, help the environment AND support those in need in our community!

continued on next page

Avez-vous de vieux appareils électroniques qui prennent la poussière à la maison ?

Apportez-nous vos appareils électroniques et nous les recyclerons de façon responsable avec l’aide du CFER Ouest pour sauver la planète !

Mais attendez, ce n’est pas tout ! En échange de votre contribution, nous collectons des aliments non-périssables pour soutenir la banque alimentaire On Rock !

Tout le monde y gagne ! Désencombrez, aidez l’environnement ET soutenez ceux qui sont dans le besoin dans notre communauté !

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ACVPC.PCVCA

Email: villagedepointeclaire@gmail.com

Instagram : Village PC

Pointe-Claire and Citizens with Disabilities Series

History and Background

Today I will be talking about our city’s history with regards to our citizens with disabilities and explaining how it all became about and developed.

Our City of Pointe-Claire has an established number of inhabitants - 33,488 as of the last census by Statistics Canada in 2021 Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Pointe-Claire, Ville (V) [Census subdivision], Quebec (statcan.gc.ca)

In 2004, Québec’s National Assembly adopted Bill 56, An Act to amend the Act to secure the handicapped in the exercise of their rights and other legislative provisions 2004C31A.PDF (gouv.qc.ca)

This Bill/Act was a necessity with the intention to provide the various measures of and clarifying the mission and functions of the Office des personnes handicapées du Québec to help handicapped persons integrate into society, and to develop and organize resources and services for them. Government departments, public agencies with at least 50 employees and municipalities with at least 15,000 inhabitants are required under the provisions of this Bill/Act to produce and publish annually an action plan on behalf of handicapped persons.

The Act was elaborated and established so that “every person with a deficiency causing a significant and persistent disability, who is liable to encounter barriers in performing

everyday activities, is considered to be handicapped within the meaning of the Act to secure handicapped persons in the exercise of their rights with a view to achieving social, school and workplace integration that handicapped persons encounter in the sector of activity of the department or agency, and describing the measures taken over the past year and those to be taken in the coming year to reduce barriers to integration in that sector of activity. The action plan includes any other element determined by the Government upon recommendation of the Minister, and must be prepared and published annually...”

For municipalities such as Pointe-Claire, sections 61.1 and 61.3 of the Act makes it especially important, since our City develops action plans yearly towards successful implementation with the goal of surpassing annual objectives.

Our City’s Action Plan

Our City began the process of developing an Action Plan for Residents Living with a Disability in 2007, then in March 2008 the City adopted the Accessibility Action Plan - which today is known as the 2023 Municipal Action Plan for the Social and Professional Integration or Persons with a Disability pc_plan-action-accessibilite2023-en-e08.pdf (pointe-claire.ca)

The very first Action plan first published publiclycame out in 2017 - Plan daction accessibilité 2017_EN

Disabilities Series (cont.)

(pointe-claire.ca) - then continuous Action Plans were published publicly every year thereafter. Previous action plans, if they exist - would have, for some reason, not been made public as research was limited.

It should be noted that, according to the 2017 Action Plan, 92% of Pointe-Claire’s municipal employees contributed to the process and decision with the support of the Accessibility Committee.

Representation

Our City’s Accessibility Committee is currently made up of 2 sections consisting of Committee Members and Committee Support. The first comprises individuals from each one of our City departments and the second from a local disability non-profit organization, an external Pro-

Sports

vincial Government body, and a City director.

With the province’s highest rate of persons with disabilities (standing at approximately 1,053,350 people aged 15 and over) with at least one disability as of CSD 2017 (representing 16.1% of the population 15 and over), our City’s increasing densification and population density makes it clear that the number of residents with disabilities would no doubt increase exponentially, which would mean a future with a greater need for increasing accommodations and accessibility services and costs. In our next segment of the series we will explore opportunities for making our City as universally accommodating and accessible as possible, which will further explain, clarify and close the gap on our city’s information geared towards citizens with disabilities.

Contributed by Maria Benavides

Hockey West Island Hosting Provincial TournamentExciting Fun for all and Trophy Renamed in Honour of Dave Fuller

Anticipation is building as Hockey West Island gears up to host its U9/U11/U13 Provincial Hockey Tournament. Taking place at Bob-Birnie Arena in Pointe-Claire and Edgar-Rouleau Arena in Dorval between March 27 and April 7, 2024, the event will bring together 76 hockey teams from Montreal, Montérégie, Laval, Outaouais, Laurentides, Lanaudiére, and the Eastern Townships.

Now in its 27th year, the tournament has become a favourite tradition within the community and continues to grow. The tournament will feature 130 games in levels A, B, and C, ensuring that players of all levels have the opportunity to compete in a fair and exciting environment.

“Our tournament not only provides a platform for young players to showcase their skills but also fosters friendships and a sense of unity and sportsmanship among participants and spectators,” says Hockey West Island Tournament Director Karen Chan-Kee Nolan.

“For years, this event has shown what a community can do when they work together towards a common goal.”

Spectators can look forward to action-packed games and

continued on next page

The newly renamed Dave Fuller trophy. Dedicated to the founder of the tournament and a well-loved community leader.

Hockey West Island (cont.)

plenty of excitement both on and off the ice. In addition to the competitive games, the tournament will also include fun-filled activities for everyone. Come by Bob-Birnie Arena during tournament hours to check out the more than 30 different raffle prizes from local businesses like Beta Bloc and ARC Physio, regional attractions such as Arbraska, the show AURA at the Montreal Basilica, and a

host of other items for all ages. Take part in the silent auction for a signed Canadiens jersey from HWI alumni Mike Matheson, play one of the interactive games, and grab a poutine or gyro from Angelo’s Canteen.

“We want everyone who participates or visits to remember their time at the Hockey West Island Tournament,” says Chan-Kee Nolan. “We hope to see everyone at the rink!”

Contributed by Christine Latreille, Hockey West Island

Tournoi provincial de Hockey West Island - Du plaisir

passionnant pour tous et un trophée renommé en l’honneur de Dave Fuller

L’anticipation est à son comble alors que Hockey West Island se prépare à accueillir son tournoi provincial de hockey M9/ M11/M13. L’événement, qui aura lieu à l’aréna Bob-Birnie de Pointe-Claire et à l’aréna Edgar-Rouleau de Dorval du 27 mars au 7 avril 2024, réunira 76 équipes de hockey de Montréal, de la Montérégie, de Laval, de l’Outaouais, des Laurentides, de Lanaudière et des Cantons de l’Est.

Le tournoi, qui en est à sa 27e année d’existence, est devenu une tradition appréciée de la communauté et ne cesse de prendre de l’ampleur. Le tournoi comprendra 130 parties dans les niveaux A, B et C, ce qui permettra aux joueurs de tous les niveaux de s’affronter dans un environnement équitable et stimulant.

“Notre tournoi offre non seulement une plateforme aux jeunes joueurs et joueuses pour qu’ils puissent démontrer leurs habiletés, mais il favorise également les amitiés et un sens de l’unité et de l’esprit sportif parmi les participants et les spectateurs,” a déclaré Karen Chan-Kee Nolan, directrice du tournoi de Hockey West Island. “Depuis des années, cet événement montre ce qu’une communauté peut faire lorsqu’elle travaille ensemble à la réalisation d’un objectif commun.”

Les spectateurs peuvent s’attendre à des matchs pleins d’action et à beaucoup d’excitation, tant sur la glace qu’en dehors. En plus des matchs compétitifs, le tournoi comprendra également des activités amusantes pour tout le monde. Venez à l’aréna Bob-Birnie pendant les heures d’ouverture du tournoi pour jeter un coup d’œil aux plus de 30 prix de tirage au sort offerts par des entreprises locales comme Beta Bloc et ARC Physio, des attractions régionales comme Arbraska et le spectacle

AURA à la Basilique de Montréal, et une foule d’autres articles pour tous les âges. Participez à l’encan silencieux pour gagner un chandail du Canadien signé par Mike Matheson, un ancien de Hockey West Island, jouez à l’un des jeux interactifs et mangez une poutine ou un gyro de la cantine Angelo.

“Nous voulons que tous les participants et visiteurs se souviennent de leur passage au tournoi de Hockey West Island,” dit Chan-Kee Nolan. “Nous espérons voir tout le monde à la patinoire!”

Contribué par Christine Latreille, Hockey West Island

Le trophée Dave Fuller nouvellement renommé. Dédié au fondateur du tournoi et à un leader communautaire très apprécié.

Soccer Pointe-Claire (SPC) is busy preparing for the upcoming season

It is with great excitement that Soccer Pointe-Claire (SPC) is busy preparing for the upcoming season. SPC is an amateur soccer association that is committed to providing high-quality soccer to all players, coaches, and referees in order to consistently excel at all levels. We offer programming for players aged four to 74, a local festival for our members, and a spring tournament for U11-U12 teams from Ontario and Quebec.

With 2,445 players, 325 coaches, and 55 referees, we represent Pointe-Claire across Quebec and were even Eastern Canadian Regional Champions in the men’s Over-35 category in 2023. Our player membership has grown by 21.5% since 2019, making SPC the second largest association in Montreal’s West Island. This growth has been generated by our operational focus on great administration and player development all the while supporting our club ethos: #RespectForAll. This focus afforded us the honour in 2022 of being the club with the highest member retention in all of Quebec.

Registration for the summer season opened on Feb. 1st, 2024, and spots are filling fast. Our women’s Over25 House League, aka Champagne, sold out in 1.5 days and the men’s Over-35 House League, aka LOGS, in 1 week. Waiting lists for both categories are open for additional players. But it is not just adults dreaming of summer activities, our Micro programs (Under-4 to

Under-8) often sell out, as does our Club Development Centre (CDC) for kids aged Under-9 to Under-12. To learn more about how to register, please visit: https://soccerpointeclaire.com/summer/ .

A club our size is heavily reliant on volunteers, especially a club with a desire to provide reasonably priced activities and quality programming. Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community while being active and engaged in the health and well-being of our youth. Volunteer opportunities include on-field educators, and are especially needed within our Micro and Youth recreational programs, or off-field team managers for teams of all ages. During our club events, tournaments, and festivals, we also need additional support in planning and running these amazing events. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the club at: info@soccerpointeclaire.com

With some of our summer teams starting in the Ligue de Développement Provinciale (LDP) in mid-April, we at SPC are very excited for this new season to begin. Whether you are an existing member, a new member, or a Pointe-Claire citizen, we invite you to stop by the Terra-Cotta soccer complex this summer and enjoy the sport we love in the best city-run facility in Montreal. See you soon,

Jonathan Markiewicz President – Soccer Pointe-Claire

Soccer Pointe-Claire (SPC) se prépare pour la prochaine saison

C’est avec beaucoup d’enthousiasme que Soccer PointeClaire (SPC) se prépare pour la prochaine saison. SPC est une association de soccer amateur qui s’engage à fournir du soccer de haute qualité à tous les joueurs, entraîneurs et arbitres afin d’exceller constamment à tous les niveaux. Nous offrons des programmes pour les joueurs âgés de 4 à 74 ans, un festival local pour nos membres et un tournoi de printemps pour les équipes U11-U12 de l’Ontario et du Québec.

Avec 2 445 joueurs, 325 entraîneurs et 55 arbitres, nous représentons Pointe-Claire à travers le Québec et avons même été champions régionaux de l’Est du Canada dans la catégorie des hommes de plus de 35 ans en 2023. Le nombre de nos joueurs a augmenté de 21,5 % depuis 2019, ce qui fait de SPC la deuxième association en importance dans l’ouest de l’île de Montréal. Cette croissance a été générée par notre concentration opérationnelle sur une excellente administration et le développement des joueurs, tout en soutenant l’éthique de notre club : #RespectForAll.

Cette concentration nous a permis d’avoir l’honneur, en 2022, d’être le club ayant le taux de rétention de membres le plus élevé de tout le Québec.

Les inscriptions pour la saison d’été ont débuté le 1er février 2024 et les places se remplissent rapidement. Notre ligue féminine des plus de 25 ans, appelée Champagne, s’est vendue en un jour et demi et la ligue masculine des plus de 35 ans, appelée LOGS, en une semaine. Les listes d’attente pour les deux catégories sont ouvertes aux joueurs supplémentaires. Mais il n’y a pas que les adultes qui rêvent d’activités estivales, nos programmes Micro (moins de 4 ans à moins de 8 ans) affichent souvent complet, tout comme notre Centre de

développement du club (CDC) pour les enfants âgés de moins de 9 ans à moins de 12 ans. Pour en savoir plus sur les inscriptions, cliquez sur le lien suivant : https://soccerpointeclaire.com/fr/ete/.

Un club de notre taille est fortement tributaire des bénévoles, en particulier un club qui souhaite proposer des activités à des prix raisonnables et des programmes de qualité. Le bénévolat est un excellent moyen de rendre à la communauté ce qu’elle vous a donné, tout en étant actif et engagé dans la santé et le bien-être de nos jeunes. Les possibilités de bénévolat incluent des éducateurs sur le terrain, particulièrement nécessaires dans le cadre de nos programmes Micro et Youth Recreational, ou des gérants d’équipe hors du terrain pour des équipes de tous âges. Lors des événements, tournois et festivals de notre club, nous avons également besoin d’un soutien supplémentaire pour la planification et l’organisation de ces événements extraordinaires. Si vous êtes intéressé par le bénévolat, veuillez contacter le club à l’adresse suivante : info@soccerpointeclaire.com Alors que certaines de nos équipes estivales commenceront à jouer dans la Ligue de développement provincial (LDP) à la mi-avril, SPC est très enthousiaste à l’idée d’entamer cette nouvelle saison. Que vous soyez un membre actuel, un nouveau membre ou un citoyen de Pointe-Claire, nous vous invitons à vous arrêter au complexe de soccer Terra-Cotta cet été et à pratiquer le sport que nous aimons dans les meilleures installations municipales de Montréal. À bientôt,

Jonathan Markiewicz Président – Soccer Pointe-Claire

For the Love of Pets

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.

PCCA Holiday Decorations Photo Contest Winners

Here are our contest winners receiving their prizes. Thank you again to all those that participated and a big thank you to the generous local businesses that donated the great prizes.

Help us find Zoe!

Bossy Furbaby Théo

124 Stillview

19 Parkland

57 Aurora

91 Parkdale

145 Sunderland

180 Dieppe

501 Donegani

Wellness Zone: Internal Martial Arts for Health and Longevity

The history of martial arts is vast. It spans millennia and involves multiple cultures. However, as of today, it is generally acknowledged that a martial art can be classified as either “external” or “internal”. All these forms were originally designed with martial intent (i.e. fighting skills). As they evolved, however, some arts began taking on different dimensions such as spirituality, rulebased competition, and physical health. Today, popular external styles are karate, jiu-jitsu, and kickboxing, whereas commonly cited examples of internal styles are tai chi, bagua, and xingyi. What dimensions are emphasized really depends on a given school and the primary teacher.

Internal martial arts, especially in the Western hemisphere, have become severed from their martial heritage. Although some styles like to claim that they remain true to this fighting heritage, no one these days gets hurt by going to a tai chi class. And if you never get hurt learning a fighting skill, you’re not really learning to fight - you’re going through some kind of simulation. An external artist will always triumph over an internal artist simply because the former trains to fight while the latter merely, at most, imagines they’re fighting.

We may decide from all this that the external is therefore superior to the internal. This, however, would be a very shortsighted conclusion. They are superior if your objective is to hurt someone, but we don’t live in an era where villagers are forced to either learn to defend themselves or perish violently at the hands of marauding bandits. Nor do competing armies regularly fight each other in hand-to-hand combat anymore. Training for decades in order to defeat the mythological bogey-

man hiding in an alleyway waiting to “jump us” is also a very questionable use of one’s time, effort, and money. Alas, there is still an enemy out there. A very big one at that. It is called stress and a stiff body! This is not a hypothetical assailant. It is present every single day of our lives. It’s a very real enemy that has very real negative consequences.

Very good health and personal development benefits can be derived from external arts, but over the years, the body gets ground down, tired, and stiff. But health should be a long-term goal. It should be something we want to bring into our old age. We should, in other words, be aiming for health and longevity. This essentially means we should strive to retain our natural youthful health as much as possible. Observe how a toddler, even a baby, moves - supple, stretchable, and naturally energetic. These very young people are excellent role models for us.

For those interested in these things, the best choice is to practice an internal art that has been optimized for health and longevity. We do need to exercise caution when choosing such a style, however, as it remains an easy hiding place for charlatans who teach flowery, empty exercises with fancy names. Look for a teacher who is skilled at applying principles as opposed to teaching static choreography. If principles are understood, then exercises can be adapted to various body types, ages, and personality types.

By Peter Matulis. Peter Matulis started training in internal martial arts in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1991. His school’s motto is Life celebrating - Life enhancing. His teachings are informed by yiquan, liuhebafa, tai chi, and qigong. More information is available online:

https://oasis-internal.art/

La zone de bien-être : Arts martiaux internes pour la santé et la longévité

L’histoire des arts martiaux est vaste. Elle s’étend sur des millénaires et implique de nombreuses cultures humaines. Cependant, à l’heure actuelle, il est généralement reconnu qu’un art martial peut être classé comme étant soit « externe », soit « interne ». Toutes ces formes ont été conçues à l’origine avec une intention martia-

le (c’est-à-dire une habileté au combat). Cependant, au fur et à mesure de leur évolution, certains arts ont commencé à prendre différentes dimensions telles que la spiritualité, la compétition basée sur des règles et la santé physique. Aujourd’hui, les styles externes populai-

suite à la prochaine page

Arts martiaux (suite)

res sont le karaté, le jiu-jitsu et le kickboxing, tandis que les exemples de styles internes couramment cités sont le tai-chi, le bagua et le xingyi. Les dimensions mises en avant dépendent de l’école en question et de son enseignant principal.

Les arts martiaux internes, en particulier en occident, ont été coupés de leur héritage martial. Bien que certains styles aiment prétendre qu’ils restent fidèles à cet héritage de combat, personne de nos jours n’est blessé en assistant à un cours de tai-chi. Et si vous ne vous blessez jamais en apprenant une technique de combat, vous n’apprenez pas vraiment à vous battre – vous passez par une sorte de simulation. Un artiste externe triomphera toujours d’un artiste interne simplement parce que le premier s’entraîne à se battre tandis que le second imagine tout au plus qu’il se bat.

On peut conclure de tout cela que les styles externes sont supérieurs à ceux internes. Ce serait cependant faire une conclusion hâtive. Ils sont supérieurs si votre objectif est de blesser quelqu’un, mais nous ne vivons pas à une époque où les villageois sont obligés d’apprendre à se défendre ou de périr violemment aux mains de bandits en maraude. Les armées concurrentes ne s’affrontent plus régulièrement au corps à corps. S’entraîner pendant des décennies afin de vaincre le brigant mythologique caché dans une ruelle attendant de « nous sauter dessus » est également une utilisation très discutable de notre temps, et des efforts et de l’argent dépensés. Hélas, il y a toujours un ennemi. Un très gros problème en plus. C’est ce qu’on appelle du stress et un corps raide! Il ne

s’agit pas d’un agresseur hypothétique. Il est présent chaque jour de notre vie. C’est un ennemi bien réel, qui a des conséquences négatives très concrètes dans nos vies.

De très bons bienfaits pour la santé et le développement personnel peuvent découler des arts externes, mais au fil des années, le corps s’épuise, se fatigue et se raidit. Mais être en bonne santé doit être un objectif à long terme. Cela devrait être quelque chose que nous voulons apporter à nos vieux jours. En d’autres termes, nous devrions viser la santé et la longévité. Cela signifie essentiellement que nous devons nous efforcer de conserver autant que possible notre santé naturelle de jeunesse. Observez comment un tout-petit, même un bébé, bouge : souple, flexible et naturellement énergique. Ces très jeunes sont pour nous d’excellents modèles.

Pour ceux qui s’intéressent à ces sujets, le meilleur choix est de pratiquer un art interne qui met l’emphase sur la santé et la longévité. Il faut cependant faire preuve de prudence lors du choix d’un tel style, car il reste une cachette facile pour les charlatans qui enseignent des exercices vides aux noms fantaisistes. Recherchez un enseignant capable d’appliquer des principes plutôt que d’enseigner une chorégraphie statique. Si les principes sont compris, les exercices peuvent être adaptés à différents types de corps, de personnalité et à tous les groupes d’âges.

Par Peter Matulis. Peter Matulis a commencé sa formation en arts martiaux internes à Halifax, en Nouvelle-Écosse, en 1991. La devise de son école est Célébrer la vie - Améliorer la vie. Ses enseignements s’inspirent du yiquan, du liuhebafa, du taichi et du qigong. Plus d’informations sont disponibles en ligne : https://oasis-internal.art/

The Kitchen: Barry’s Chick Rub

This is a rub I put together for beer can chicken and can be used for other chicken recipes if cooking indirectly. The high sugar content would be a reason to be cautious around direct or high heat. Ideally, I like to season the bird a day ahead and store it in the fridge in a plastic bag. Then on the day of cooking, recoat to end up with a nice crust.

Ingredients

2 tbsp kosher salt

2 tbsp white sugar

2 tbsp brown sugar

2 tbsp cumin

2 tbsp chili powder (not ground chilies)

2 tbsp black pepper

1 tbsp cayenne

4 tbsp smoked paprika

Directions

Mix well and store in an airtight shaker. Do not be scared of the cayenne in this recipe, it is not spicy once cooked, and little kids love it!

As for the beer can chicken itself, many have asked me what type of beer to use. Should they use a Guinness continued on next page

Chick Rub (cont.)

versus a Lager etc. There have been many who have tested this out and the verdict is it makes absolutely no difference in taste. The beer provides moisture to the cooking chicken, that’s all. Just be sure to remove ⅓ of the room temperature beer and add a couple of extra holes at the top. I have found that the tall boy cans (500ml) work the best for putting up the butt of the bird. Once inserted solidly, open the legs a little to form a tripod. Adding a smoke pouch on the fire side will enhance the flavour. As well, rotate the bird halfway through while wearing a pair of rubber gloves. Cooking times will vary, but 45 - 60 minutes to an internal temperature of 160 degrees. Ideally, pick up the bird with the can and place them on a cutting board to rest. Be careful… the beer is hot so the can needs to be removed cautiously. Enjoy every bite!

By Barry Christensen, Grillmaster

PC in Pictures

We welcome picture submissions about PointeClaire. Send them to editor@pcrecord.ca.

Submissions must be from the person that took the picture and feel free to tell us where it was taken, when, and any other interesting information about it.

Sunrise on Lac St-Louis. Picture taken by Don Urquhart on Feb 21