How a mother's drive to protect her children from the Nazis shaped a Canadian city's future

As we celebrate the late Coun. Ruth Kovac's life, let's look back on where she came from. At the bottom of this blog post, you will find a link to a free audio documentary that includes the voices of Ruth and her mother.

In 1944, Ilse Zilversmit was a teenager trapped inside the walls of Bergen-Belsen.

Some 70,000 people died in that Nazi concentration camp, but Ilse survived because of her mother’s bravery and selflessness.

Lutta kept her children alive by combining risky survival tricks with a glimmer of hope.

And her drive to protect her children inadvertently helped shape the future of a small Canadian community many decades later.

Sitting in her colourfully decorated Côte Saint-Luc condo with her eldest of four at her side, Ilse told me her remarkable story in the spring of 2014.

She told me how she bumped into an old friend in Bergen-Belsen and tried to feed her despite having near nothing to eat.

There was little else she could do to help and that old friend, Anne Frank, became one of the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust.

Anne's story is widely shared, but it's important to remember stories like Ilse's as well.

Her story tells of how one strong, generous woman, Lutta, set the tone for generations to come.

Lutta’s devotion to her family passed down to Ilse and then to Ilse's daughter, Ruth Kovac.

Zilversmit died in 2016 at the age of 89 and Ruth died on Tuesday at the age of 69.

Kovac, a city councillor in Côte Saint-Luc for 29 years, is remembered as a generous woman who never stopped giving. She worked tirelessly to make her city, province and country a better place.

And she succeeded. To read more about that success, read my CBC article here.

That success never would have been possible were it not for her grandmother, Lutta, whose devotion was passed down over seas and time.

About 18 months ago, I made an audio documentary with Ruth’s help. She ensured my facts were straight and my pronunciation was accurate. And she encouraged me to share it with the world. 

This audio documentary was also made with the help of my friend and gifted sound engineer, Martin Boisselle.

Sharing it now is my way of remembering Ruth Kovac and thanking her for always taking my calls, replying to my emails and making me feel welcome in Côte Saint-Luc.

To hear Zilversmit’s tale in this free audio documentary, click here and do not hesitate to share.

Joseph and the AmazingTechnicolor Dreamcoat coming to Côte St. Luc

The Côte St. Luc Dramatic Society is known for producing high-quality, award-winning shows and the upcoming presentation of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” promises to be no different.

The rock musical, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is an adaptation of the biblical story and the production will feature a range of community and professional actors. This musical performance, running form May 30 to June 17, will mark the start of the troupe’s 2017-2018 season.

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat offers us an opportunity to produce a show that will embody the spirit of community theatre, while challenging our team to continue to produce excellent, artistically rich and fulfilling work," states artistic director Anisa Cameron in a press release.

Cameron, who is directing this production, adds, “For the first time, we will have children in our musical production.”

Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, who is producing the show, says adding children to the cast falls in line with the group’s effort to “bring the joy of theatre to people of all ages.”

The Côte St. Luc Dramatic Society is a community theatre initiative that began in the summer of 2011 in partnership with the city. To learn more, read my article that was published in the Montreal Gazette last year.

Single MOMtreal works to connect donors directly to single mothers in need

By Isaac Olson
Soon after an article about Single MOMtreal was published by the Montreal Gazette on Nov. 29, the new non-profit organization was swept up into the spotlight. The group was highlighted on radio and television while the Gazette article was widely shared online.

Ever since that day, founder Nadia Wiseman has been dealing with a flood of donations as private individuals and businesses from across the Montreal region reach out to her, trying to help all the single moms that are struggling to get by.

At the same time, she says there has also been a flood of single mothers joining the group. Some are just looking to be part a network of single moms that are active together. Others need help. They need help bad.

Wiseman, working closely with dedicated volunteers like Tanya D’Amato, has heard a lot of sad stories and seen a lot of devastating conditions that single mothers are living in with their children.

Some mothers have escaped domestic abuse or unhealthy relationships with nothing but a few suitcases of clothes. Wiseman has seen women living in barren apartments with empty refrigerators, bare shelves and hardly enough blankets to go around.

“What I’ve been doing is matching donors directly with these single mothers in need,” Wiseman explains, noting she tries to connect donors to single mothers by area. For example, an NDG donor might be connected to an NDG mother or, at the very least, somebody right nearby. “I post to our Facebook page and in different groups, asking people to help.”

The nice thing about connecting donors directly to single mothers is people can see exactly who they are helping. It’s a more tangible way to give to those in need. People can actually meet the mother they are helping, she says, and, because of that, people feel more comfortable opening their wallets or digging into their storage for hand-me-down clothing.

“A lot of people don’t like just giving to organizations because they don’t know where their money is going,” observes Wiseman. “Or they still give, but they wonder after if their money actually went to a good cause. But with the way I am doing it, they don’t have to wonder because I show them who it is that they are helping.”

Wiseman says she has been overwhelmed by all the support as people bring in groceries, gift cards and clothing, but more donations are needed. As it is, a lot of people that are stepping up to the plate are single mothers. Wiseman adds, “It’s amazing to see single moms that are already going through hard times themselves, helping others.”

Wiseman says she also needs a place to store all these donations as she lives in a small studio apartment in Côte-des-Neiges with her son. There just isn’t enough space to keep it all.

The Single MOMtreal support group helps mothers connect to resources in the community. In the private Facebook group, mothers can discuss whatever they need, ask questions and seek advice. They help each other every day, plan meetups, trade services and more.

Overall, Wiseman says she is grateful for all those that have given so far. The list is too long to name everybody, but she has regularly made posts to her group’s public Facebook feed. Those posts document all the companies and individuals that have donated. A lot of people, she notes, enjoy giving directly to the organization rather than dumping their second-hand items in donation bins, never sure where they’ll end up.

“People go out of their way to bring me donations,” Wiseman says.

“It’s amazing. One mom received 12 bags of groceries. There are so many examples. People have been so generous. A social worker who came here twice now, she works nearby, she dropped off like $400 in gift cards that she collected from her coworkers at the hospital. She also dropped off some dishes and a brand-new Monopoly game just in time for a mother that was coming out of a woman’s shelter with two children.”

Wiseman says she is grateful for all those that have reached out, but more help is welcome. To learn how you can give, visit Single MOMtreal’s public Facebook page or email admin@singlemomtreal.com.

The group's website can be found here: http://singlemomtreal.com/

Inspired by his mother's illness, Royal Vale student launches hair-raising campaign that supports two causes at once

After watching a video on Facebook a couple years ago about a boy donating his locks to cancer patients in need of high-quality wigs, a young Côte St. Luc resident decided to take that initiative a step further.

“Everybody cuts their hair for cancer,” said Oren Sendel with a smile that never seems to fade from his face. “I wanted to do more.”

When he started growing out his hair, Oren had a buzz cut. Now weeks away from his 13th birthday, he has long, wavy hair that reaches the middle of his back and curtains his face like a lion’s mane. Small for his age, but giant in heart, Oren is looking to help two causes at once.

Oren has grown up watching his mother, Laurie Sendel, struggle with Multiple sclerosis (MS), a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord. To honour her struggle, Oren is not only donating his locks to a group that makes free, human-hair wigs for cancer patients, he is looking for sponsors to support his cause by donating money to the Montreal Neurological Hospital in the care of the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic.

“An account will be set up and the funds will go towards making some dark days a little brighter for those who need it,” he writes on his website that he launched in mid-October — one month before he plans to snip off all his hair. “The money can be used to pay for a taxi on a day when a patient is exhausted or to buy a cane for someone who needs one.  It can also be used to offset the cost of the medicines needed as they are very expensive.  I trust that the hospital will know where the money is most needed.”

Laurie Sendel said Oren, her youngest of three children, has not let go of his mission and that has impressed the entire family. At first, people were asking why he wasn’t cutting his hair, but, as soon as they heard the reasoning, they have been supporting him ever since. So far, about $200 has come in from friends and family, but Oren is hoping to earn as much as possible.

Oren often keeps his hair tied back, leaving his vision clear for football practice, biking around his neighbourhood and his studies at Royal Vale School. He plans to cut it in time for his bar mitzvah, but, before that, he is asking people to spread the word about his fundraising mission.

“My mom has MS and I wanted to help,” he said. “Everyone always needs help, I guess, and somebody needs to do it.”

Laurie Sendel said she is proud of her son not just as his mother, but as an MS patient.

“It’s taking something that is a little bit negative in our lives and giving it such a positive feel,” she said. “Oren surprises us a lot, so I wasn’t shocked when he came up with this idea. I was very impressed. What I was surprised with is it has taken him such a long time to grow his hair and, throughout this journey, he has never let go of that idea. He has never let go of the idea that he is going to donate his hair and help people with MS.”

Below is a video of my interview with Oren and his mother. Be sure to check out his website and donate: http://orensendel.weebly.com/

Little Shop of Horrors debuts in Côte St. Luc

The Côte St. Luc Dramatic Society will be performing Little Shop of Horrors until June 25, offering local theatre lovers a full-scale, professional production of a classic, horror-comedy-rock musical.

Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, who performs in the play and serves as the producer, said the performance is suitable for kids aged 10 to 12, depending on their level of maturity. There is a cast of 23 amateur and professional actors, two puppeteers and a five-piece band.

Of course, Audrey II, a talking plant that develops a taste for people meat, will be on stage as well in four different stages of development. By the second half of the play, the plant is larger than life.

The play is being held in city hall's Harold Greenspon Auditorium, but buy your tickets soon because the venue only seats 136 and word of this vibrant, exciting performance is spreading fast.

Tickets can be bought on this website or at various locations in Côte St. Luc, including city hall and the Aquatic and Community Centre.  For the full story on this play, read my article in the Montreal Gazette and then check out these photos below provided by production manager Reesa Rosenfeld.

-Isaac Olson

Cyclist and pedestrian group demands safer, protected bike paths in NDG

By Isaac Olson
Members of the Association of Pedestrians and Cyclists of NDG (APC NDG) gathered in front of the Benny Library and Cultural Centre on May 5 holding up signs demanding safer bike paths in the district.

About two dozen sign-holding members of the APC NDG gathered despite the rain, holding up bilingual signage with slogans such as “protegez les cyclists” or “we need concrete barriers on de Maisonneuve bike path.” 

This demonstration was held as politicians, borough staff and citizens streamed into the building for the monthly Côte des Neiges—NDG borough meeting.

“Other cities in Canada are moving forward with bike paths,” Deanne Delaney told the council during the question period. She cited the city of Vancouver as a specific example while reminding councillors that the non-profit advocacy group submitted a bike plan proposal on August 7, 2016 and have since "been asking for news and updates, coming to borough meetings, to no avail.”

A meeting with borough officials is slated for late June. Delaney said the group now feels listened to  but the need for safe bike paths in NDG has not been resolved. By safe, she noted, the group is not just talking about lane lines painted on the road, but actual infrastructure that protects cyclists of all ages. 

As one of the signs stated in French: "Don't wait for the death of a cyclist."

She reminded the mayor that he is invited to come on a bike ride with the group to tour the de Maisonneuve bike path. That path, she said, needs more protection and “other measures” to reduce vehicular speed as motorists use the street as an east-to-west connection, bypassing the traffic lights on Sherbrooke St.

Borough mayor Russell Copeman said the bike path plan had been received and “our borough services have been looking at it.” Reflections on that plan will be shared in late June during the meeting, he said. He said he accepts the invitation to go on a bike ride with the group and he plans to take advantage of Bixi for that trip which, he said, will likely happen in August.

Earlier in the meeting, Loyola district councillor Jeremy Searle suggested that the de Maisonneuve bike path be raised up on concrete to further protect cyclists because motorists will be less inclined to drive on the path if there is a curb to hop. As it is, despite the bollards, motorists are regularly seen weaving onto the path to avoid slow or turning cars. Trucks are also known to cross into the path while making wide-sweeping, right-hand turns onto de Maisonneuve. 

This protest and discussion comes as the fight for a green pedestrian and cyclist bridge connecting NDG to LaSalle over the highway and Turcot rail yard continues to build steam.  At noon on June 11, an assembly is planned to further that fight and make that bridge a reality. Known as the “dalle-parc” in French, the gathering begins at 6450 Notre Dame St. W. For more information, make sure to check out the Facebook page dedicated to this cause.

NDG district councillor Peter McQueen has been leading the charge for this bike bridge, saying it is important that NDGers have access to the Lachine Canal, Angringon Park and everything else to the south of the highway. Otherwise, cyclists and pedestrians have to go to Westmount or Montreal West to get south of Route 20. He invited the public to attend the June 11 assembly. 

"They're building road bridges over what is going to be the new highway down there," said Mcqueen during the meeting. "They're building them all in advance, so they should be building the bicycle bridge too."

Like and follow the APC NDG Facebook page to stay updated on these issues.

Deanne Delaney addresses the council. All photos: Isaac Olson

'Below the Tracks Reunion' planned for NDGers from 50s, 60s, 70s

The “Below the Tracks Reunion” is going to be an exciting event on May 19 at the NDG-based Crowley Arts Centre, bringing together those that grew up in the area in the 50s, 60s and 70s.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime event,” said Nick Patulli, director of operations at the Crowley Arts Centre. “It is a very close-nit community that will come together  for the first time in 30 - 40 years and some even 50 years. It will be a very special evening where we will be celebrating life and paying tribute to friends that have passed away too early.”

Patulli is one of the countless people that have fond memories growing up in NDG, south of the tracks, and he has fostered hundreds of lifelong friendships over the years. While many stayed in the area, still others moved on and this event will bring everybody, near and far, all back together again to remember days gone by. There are several big names that will be attending the event, he said, as a good many people went on to be quite successful in life.

The event will be held at the beautiful Crowley Arts Centre on Crowley Ave., just west of Decarie Blvd. The facility is fully equipped to host events like this that will include live music, an open bar and a free smoked meat buffet. The live musical entertainment will be jamming out tunes from the era, spurring memories as people enjoy first-class food, drinks and fun.

The event begins at 6:30 pm and it will run into the wee hours of the morning. Tickets are $40 presale or $50 at the door. For more information, click this link.