West Island MNAs Monsef Derraji (MNA for Nelligan), Gregory Kelley (MNA for Jacques-Cartier) and Brigitte B. Garceau (MNA for Robert-Baldwin) are proud to unite their efforts to support three local food banks – On Rock Community Services, West Island Mission and West Island Assistance Fund.

This community initiative coincides with the holiday season and with an economic situation that has become increasingly difficult. The face of poverty has changed – now it is characterized by small families, single mothers, children, workers, students and seniors. There are currently 600,000 Quebecers who are monthly users of food banks.

The three MNAs are providing a total of $25,000 in funding in order to allow the food banks to offer much-needed assistance and support to our most vulnerable citizens. Over and above this support, the MNAs are taking advantage of the opportunity to recognize the outstanding contributions of these three organizations and to thank their members and their volunteers for all they do.

MPP Laura Smith (pictured above), Member of Provincial Parliament for Thornhill, visited the Mintz Family Elderhome on Crestwood today, to make an important announcement alongside the Hon. Minister Raymond Cho and PA Daisy Wai. The Ontario government is investing our Thornhill seniors by funding $69,695 in three projects that will help seniors stay safe, fit, active, healthy, and socially connected across the community with Seniors Community Grants. “Age and disability should not be a barrier to happiness. This is why we continue to support non-profits, such as Reena, for the work they do for individuals who mean so much to our communities and families,” said MPP Smith. “Reena has been a strong presence in my riding, for over 20 years, and has continued to recognize and address the increased needs of individuals with developmental disabilities as they age. We support our not-for-profits, because they support us.”

By Mike Cohen

Montrealers will be getting a new print publication. Jewish businessman Andy Nulman has decided to revive The Sunday Express Newspaper and I have agreed to be a contributor. Publishing will begin by the fall.

For those of you old enough to remember, The Sunday Express was published first by Joe Azaria from 1969 to 1975 and by Quebecor from 1974 to 1985 and had a true Le Journal de Montréal look to it. As a CEGEP and university student, I served as assistant sports editor for three years until it folded. Other noted journalists who cut their teeth there included Nulman, Bill Brownstein, Antonia Zerbisias, Joyce Napier, Marianne Ackerman, Karen Seidman and the late Brodie Snyder and Myron Galloway.

Nulman was the entertainment editor, starting that job as a teenager. He would go on to run The Just For Laughs Festival and get into the technology business. In 2005, he and partner Garner Bornstein sold their company to Japan’s Cybird Holdings for close to $100 million, so financing of this new endeavor is not a problem.

My Site

Dave Stubbs, formerly of The Gazette and now with NHL.com, will be the sports editor. For old times sake, Nulman will oversee entertainment. I will be the restaurant critic. An array of other noted personalities should attract readers as columnists: cinema mogul and Dragons’ Den star Vincenzo Guzzo, Tommy Schnurmacher on politics, Brian Wilde and Rick Moffat on sports and Carmi Levy on technology.

Perhaps the most controversial choice of columnists will be former Montreal councillor and Mayor Michael Applebaum, focusing on municipal affairs. “Michael paid his debt to society and it is time for everyone to move on,” Nulman said. “He knows city hall better than anybody. Who  better to cover the next election?”

As for the paper itself, the new publisher is excited. “There is no Sunday English newspaper in this city and just as there was 45 years ago I believe there is a place for The Sunday Express,” Nulman said. “I have a wide array of contacts in the business community and we will have good support when the paper launches.”

I spoke to Nulman before writing this column to warn him. Happy April Fool’s Day to everyone! There will be no Sunday Express revival (or will there???), but now that we are on the subject let me share with you the truth about a very exciting time in my journalistic career. I was 18 years old and attending Dawson College. My late dad Larry knew the sports editor Bob Amesse, who told him he needed an assistant. “Why don’t you hire my son,” he suggested. Well Amesse took a shot on me and let’s just say I stepped off a plane and found myself on Fantasy Island. Here I was, a teen who barely shaved covering the Canadiens, Expos, Alouettes, Manic (former pro soccer team) and having the likes of Gary Carter, Peter Dalla Riva and even Guy Lafleur calling me by my first name. It was an experience I will never forget.

The link to register is: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/we-remember-them-a-community-wide-virtual-memorial-service-tickets-145537952935