The Suburban - Mike Cohen

Côte Saint-Luc's Brandon Elbaz, an 18 year old graduate of Bialik High School and present-day Media Art Studies (Communications) student at John Abbott College in Ste. Anne de Bellevue, has cracked the coveted top 40 in the MuchMusic Canada-wide VJ Search.

Brandon Elbaz

"My passion is being in front of the camera and producing music in my home studio," he shared with me. " I knew that this is what I wanted to do following my first class at The Montreal School of Performing Arts, which sparked passion and love for the creative arts. With thousands of submissions Canada wide, to be named within the top 40 contenders has been a dream come true."

Elbaz says he wants to thank everyone who has showered him with support and kindness by voting for him to get into the top 20. That is being done via now by going to this link and under Top 40 type in Brandon Elbaz. You can vote daily via Facebook. Let's help this charismatic son of Herzliah High School teacher Patrick Elbaz and dynamic businesswoman Brenda Laredo reach his dream. The top 20 will travel to seven major Canadian cities in a reality show format, interviewing and reporting, as well as showing creativity and passion for music.

Elbaz in action

"Growing up I was that kid who would engolf himself in the crazy world that is pop culture," he said. "While all my friends where playing video games 24/7, I was downloading album after album, and spending endless hours on the internet and watching MuchMusic discovering new artists and bands. Music and pop culture is my life and it will be in my life till the day I die. I was born to be on MuchMusic."

You can vote once daily to support Brandon by going to this site, www.muchmusic.com/vjsearch which is linked to one's Facebook account.

Montreal's Jewish community is no doubt rejoicing over the Passover Seder table that one of their own, forward Jeff Halpern, is back in Montreal. For how long we do not know, but during his last stint with the club in 2010-2011 there were indeed hopes expressed that he would make some appearances within the Jewish community.

At the time there were in fact two Jewish players on the Habs: Halpern and Mike Cammalleri. Halperin did in fact agree to make one high profile appearance at a Jewish community event, but then head coach Jacques Martin called a special practice at that time.

Halpern is the longest-tenured Jewish player in the NHL. During his 13-year pro career he has played for his hometown Washington Capitals, as well as the Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers and Montreal. He is member of the Greater Washington Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and gained a lot of new fans when he sat out a game on Yom Kippur in 2005. His wife Kelly, a former Washington Redskins cheerleader, converted to Judaism. The couple have two children.

Is Halpern had the opportunity to attend a Passover Seder this year, this is how I would expected him to have answered the four questions from a hockey perspective.

Jeff Halpern

Question 1: Why is it that on all other nights during the year we eat either bread or matzoh, but on this night we eat only matzoh?

Halpern: I am told that hot dog sales at the Bell Centre and other NHL rinks are so high that there are some times a shortage in buns.

Question 2: Why is it that on all other nights we eat all kinds of herbs, but on this night we eat only bitter herbs?

Halpern: Passover comes around the time of the NHL trading deadline. It is not easy being traded. Naturally, for some of us, this is a very "bitter" experience.

Question 3; Why is it that on all other nights we do not dip our herbs even once, but on this night we dip them twice?

Halpern: It is like my coaches have always told me. 'When you go in the corner to pick up the puck give it that all important second effort.' And if you are ever benched, do not be 'bitter.' Show you are a team player and again give that second effort,

Question 4: Why is it that on all other nights we eat either sitting or reclining, but on this night we eat in a reclining position?"

Halpern: When in a reclining position you are better positioned to pick up a loose puck and score.

Let us all raise a glass for Jeff Halpern. L'Chaim! May he re-sign with the Canadiens for next season and purchase a condo in Côte Saint-Luc.

Dic Ann’s, the storied hamburger chain which was launched by the husband and wife team of Dick Potenza and Ann Collechia 59 years ago, will open its first ever downtown location in June on St. Catherine Street near Forte Avenue. Nino Zammitand Delbina Potenza, the grandchildren of the original owners and present day managers of the operation, are working with consultant Lloyd Brownon this project. It was Brown, a noted local businessman, who introduced the first Dic Ann’s West End franchise seven years ago on St. Jacques Street in NDG.

Delbina Potenza and Nino Zammit

Zammit told me he believes the time is perfect to debut franchise number 13 downtown, emphasizing that the area is on the verge of a boom with a newcondo/apartment project going up on the site of the old Seville Theatre, a planned reboot of the Pepsi Forum entertainment complex and Lasalle and Dawson College’s to draw from. Dic Ann’s has sold more than 50 million of its trademark slim hamburgers since its inception, complete with their secret recipe hot sauce. Dic Ann’s established a world record in 1998, when their St. Jerome location served 1,452 hamburgers in one hour, each with custom condiments.

Like the Dic Ann’s on St. Jacques Street, the downtown location will be twinned with a Bonatarte dessert emporium.

Mouthwatering Dic Ann's hamburger and fries.

As Dom Potenza, Delbina’s dad and son of the original owners says, “My dad would have loved the idea of moving into downtown close to the old Montreal Forum, where the hockey team he so worshipped provided all of us with so many great memories. We look forward to welcoming, and for those who don’t know us, creating, a new legion of fans.”

Who does not love the amazing Yeh! yogurt chain. Company owners Jon and Marvin Gurman have delivered a gift to their native Montreal. Yeh! will set up shop at the Quartier Cavendish (Mall) in June.

Here is the complete story.

Chosen with the help of devoted fans across Canada, the FRUCTIS FRUIT SENSATION PRESENTS: MUCH VJ SEARCH has dwindled down its premium VJ candidates to the official Top 20! Much fans can now watch the drama unfold as the Top 20 take part in fierce competitions and exhilarating challenges. The MUCH VJ SEARCH, hosted by Lauren Toyota, takes over the 6 p.m. ET timeslot, followed by the MUCH VJ SEARCH POST SHOW at 6:30 p.m. ET. For the Top 20 profiles, updates, and exclusive on-line content including video road diaries, daily pit-stop photos, and more, visit muchmusic.com/vjsearch.

Brandon Elbaz

Côte Saint-Luc's Brandon Elbaz and Chloe Wilde from West Island Hudson are the locals in the hunt.

Each of the talented Top 20 contestants have earned a coveted spot aboard the first ever FRUCTIS FRUIT SENSATION PRESENTS: MUCH VJ SEARCH tour bus, where they’ll compete to prove they have what it takes to be the next Much VJ. Making their way through seven cities across Canada, the VJ hopefuls face a series of elimination challenges including

Chloe Wilde

MMVA party-planning, morning show hosting, and celebrity interviews.

Adding a fresh new twist to this wild competition, Much VJs Damian Abraham, Phoebe Dykstra, Tyrone “T-RexXx” Edwards, Liz Trinnear, and Scott Willats each become a mentor to the VJ hopefuls, when the Top 10 are revealed in a nail-biting episode, Thursday, April 11 at 6 p.m. ET. The VJs each pick two competitors on April 12, who they will mentor by offering support, imparting wisdom, and encouraging viewers to vote for their faves, and ultimately, the winner of the MUCH VJ SEARCH on April 26.

Viewers can catch encore viewings of the MUCH VJ SEARCH daily at noon, Monday-Thursday at 11:30 p.m. ET, and back-to-back episodes Saturdays and Sundays, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET. The top 10 will be chosen on April 11.

The Top 20 were chosen based on application videos that really stood out and best showcased the competitor’s talents, charm, and passion for all things entertainment. Largely influencing this decision are fans who continue to support their favourite VJ contestants by commenting, rating, and sharing their favourite VJ Search submissions at muchmusic.com/vjsearch.

Here is Chloe's audition tape.

The FRUCTIS FRUIT SENSATION PRESENTS: MUCH VJ SEARCH gives outgoing, entertaining, and hilarious Canadians a once-in-a-lifetime shot at becoming a Much VJ. No experience is required, but every contestant must be a music-lover, a pop-culture whiz, and have a knack for conversation and entertainment. The winner gets the coolest job in Canada, which includes meeting die-hard fans, interviewing A-List bands and artists, travelling across Canada, and working out of the renowned Much HQ at 299 Queen St. West in Toronto.

The MUCH VJ SEARCH has cemented itself as an iconic part of the Canadian media landscape. Each time around, the MUCH VJ SEARCH grows and changes its tune slightly, making the VJ hopefuls compete in a series of challenges to earn their spot as Much’s newest face. Back in 2006, the VJ Search was broadcast as a 10-episode reality competition, where hopefuls were eliminated by a panel of celebrity judges based on how well they performed at various TV hosting challenges. In 2009, the VJ Search went digital with VJ SEARCH 2.0, incorporating fan voting online and a competition streamed across muchmusic.com.

Thanks to the folks at Bell Media for their usual amazing press releases.

There are some changes at Virgin Radio. Brand Director Mark Bergman is returning to the drive home show as host. Andrea Collins goes back to her original 9 a.m. to Noon shift and Nikki shifts to weekend afternoons.

Collins, seen her speaking at a recent high school Career Day.

I just interviewed Collins two weeks ago and was about to blog about how amazing she is when the news of her time change broke. You will see in the video how much she adored the drive home show. But as a team player I know she will rise to the occasion, following Freeway Frank and Natasha.

Collins is beautiful, personable and good camera presence. With Virgin likely to become part of Bell Media in the not too distant future, I definitely see CTV Montreal finding a role for her.

See the Fagstein blog for the total scoop on why Bergman is going back on air.

Here is my video interview with Collins:

Torontonians are being asked to help a four year old Montreal girl survive. On Sunday, April 21, 2013 at Bialik Hebrew Day School (2760 Bathurst Street) and Aish Hatorah Synagogue (949 Clark Avenue in Vaughn ) a stem cell donor drive will take place in Toronto for Jayden Roll. She was recently diagnosed with MDS, a disease that may soon develop into AMK Leukemia. In order to survive, Jayden will need to find a stem cell donor in the coming weeks. But first, she will have to find a match. This is where Torontonians can now help

First one needs to find out how they can become a donor here . You must be between the ages of 17 to 50 to register between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m, at the two locations or register online at www.curejayden.ca. Volunteers are also being sought to supervise donors.

Native Montrealer Jennifer Kaufman, who is friends with Jayden's parents, is organizing the Toronto drive. She asks everyone to spread the word and follow Jayden's facebook pageand Twitter feed.

There are drives happening like this all over Canada and the US. This includesVancouver's Jewish Community Centre (950 41st Avenue West) on April 17 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.). See the website for more.

Here is a touching piece Montreal’s Rabbi Menachem Posner shared with me a few weeks ago about Jayden

“Mom, I had fun! Rolling the matzah dough was my favorite!” Four year old Jayden Roll beamed up at her mother in the lobby of the YM-YWHA in Snowdon. In many ways she is just like the 5,000 other toddlers and children who ground wheat, rolled dough, and baked matzah at the Living Legacy Model Matzah Bakery. But she is also very different.Sometimes she is just too tired and weak to do any activities at all. She also has a short time left until the doctors think that she will need to remain in the hospital for an extended length of time.

Jayden has pre-leukemia, known as MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome) which is very rare in children. Jayden’s doctors predict that it will most likely progress into acute myelogenos leukemia, or AML, at which point she will need to undergo chemotherapy and ultimately depend on a marrow transplant to survive.

Just a month ago, Jayden, a bouncy little girl with blond hair and an easy smile, was enrolled in JPPS, which she attended together with her younger brother, Joshua. A bright student, she was eagerly looking forward to learning about Passover. When she began complaining about aches in her legs and displaying extreme weakness and lethargy, her mother, Kelly Goodman, took her to the doctor. After things got worse and Jayden began falling asleep all the time, a blood test confirmed that she was indeed suffering from a form of pre-leukemia so rare that the Montreal Children’s Hospital had never treated it before.

The Roll family’s life turned upside down. Jayden has been going twice-weekly for blood tests and has already had two blood transfusions, which explain why she looks and acts exactly like a healthy little girl—at least some of the time. In order to avoid infection, she stopped going to school and her parents rarely take her out, even grocery shopping. Kelly has quit her job to be able to care for her daughter.

“Since she is not in school, and Passover is probably going to be the last holiday that she will celebrate before she goes to the hospital, I have been trying to teach her as much as I can at home,” says her mom. “But the other day we dropped off [her brother,] Josh at school and she saw the other kids going to the Model Matzah Bakery at the Y. She so wanted to join them, and we were torn. At first I considered joining the school group, but my husband, Warren, reminded me how careful we needed to be.”

Jayden left and her brother at the Matzah factory.

Kelly contacted Aviva Miller at the Y, and things started moving. Rabbi Dovid Weinbaum, program director of Living Legacy, who operates the model matzah bakery, offered to hold a private show just for Jayden, Josh and a few family members.

According to Marlene Jennings, executive director of the YM-YWHA, “When Rabbi Dovid came to me with his request, I thought ‘this is exactly what the Y is all about. We have to make sure that no one at all is left out.’”

From exactly 2:30 to 3:30 pm, between one school group and another, Rabbi Weinbaum carved out an hour of time for Jayden and her guests. The staff made sure to sweep the floors, wipe down the counters, and put fresh paper on the table where Jayden would roll her matzah to minimize chances of infection.

In a rare island of normalcy in a life that has become decidedly abnormal, Jayden giggled as she pretended to drive to a farm, kneeled down as she separated wheat from the stalk and, together with her brother and cousin, turned the crank on the miniature well as she drew water to mix together with the flour. She then rolled the dough into matzah, the thin crackerlike wafers eaten on Passover to commemorate the Biblical Exodus, when the Israelites left Egypt in such a hurry that they did not have time to allow their bread to rise.

Rabbi Weinbaum says that getting a hug from Jayden and hearing how much she loved the experience is what his work at the Living Legacy is all about. “We are here to make sure that every child can experience the beauty of Judaism, no matter the situation.”

Kelly is realistic about what the future holds. “We just found out this week that neither of her brothers are a match for her, so we are starting to look for a donor,” she said

After finding a mysterious suitcase in her mother’s basement, Dr. Andrée Lotey discovered that her late father had been Jewish and was rescued by Aristides de Sousa Mendes. This story was featured in the Montreal Gazette, and she is currently writing a true-life detective story about her discoveries. She has worked as a journalist for Radio-Canada, and has written many articles.

Dr, Andrée Lotey

Dr. Lotey teaches French literature and language at the University of Montreal and Concordia University.

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Montreal, in association with the Jewish Public Library, is featuring Dr. Lotey as their speaker on Monday, April 22, 2013, at 7:30 pm.

The title of her presentation will be

“The Survivors of the Green Suitcase".

This meeting will take place at the

Gelber Conference Centre, 5151 Cote Ste-Catherine/1 Carré Cummings.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Denis Coderre

Federal Liberal Member of Parliament Denis Coderre is expected to announce his candidacy for mayor of Montreal within the next two weeks or so.

What will happen with interim Mayor Michael Applebaum? On the record he was quite clear from the start. This was a temporary post until the next election, when he would then seek re-election as head of the Côte des Neiges/N.D.G. borough. However, as most will agree, Applebaum has done an impressive job. His French language skills are up to speed and quite acceptable to the French media. Most people I meet privately wish he`d seek the big job in November. Councillor Marvin Rotrand has begun steps to launch a new party, but there is no leader being mentioned. is that spot being reserved for Applebaum?

Michael Applebaum

Sources tell me that if for some reason Coderre does not throw his hat in the ring, waiting instead for Justin Trudeau to become prime minister in two years, then Applebaum will run for mayor. The other story being floated is a Coderre-Applebaum coalition. In order to address some of the concerns cited during the Charbonneau Commission, Coderre would run as an independent with the backing of Applebaum and an impressive lineup of independent candidates. With Louise Harel and Richard Bergeron considered lightweight mayoral candidates, the charismatic Coderre and Applebaum would cruise to victory.

It appears as if downtown Burger Bar Crescent has become the "Home-For-Away Teams," for both the NHL and the CFL. Spotted there yesterday were Tampa Bay Lightning players #91-Steve Stamkos, #26-Martin St-Louis, #2-Eric Brewer, #16-Teddy Purcell, #42-Dana Tyrell and #75-Radko Gudas who walked in unannounced ordering burgers and poutines.

Steven Stamkos

"They love poutine which is not available in their local markets," owner Morrie Baker says. "They stay away from liquor preferring sodas and chocolate milk which we run out to buy from the local depanneur as a favor since we don't normally sell it.

Like most people in the Jewish community, I was quite shocked to hear earlier this week that the Canadian Jewish News is closing its doors after 53 years of publication on June 21, 2013. Sadly, it is part of a growing trend which in Montreal alone has recently claimed The Hour and Mirror weeklies, The Sunday editions of The Montreal Gazette and La Presse and most recently Bram Eisenthal's excellent Local Herald (which will continue online). A few years ago it was the NDG Monitor which shut down. It still has a small web presence.

The Canadian Jewish News published a large Toronto edition each week and a smaller Montreal counterpart. It was only available by subscription. For those who donated a certain amount to the local Combined Jewish Appeal campaigns got it in the mail as a bonus. I have read the paper religiously for decades. The Montreal edition has three solid full-time writers about to begin circulating their resumes: Janice Arnold, David Lazarus and Elias Levy, the latter of whom was added to the roster about 20 years ago to contribute French stories.

I have fond memories of the CJN. While I personally never wrote for the paper, I worked especially closely with its editors and reporters during my 11 years as national director of communications for the Canadian Jewish Congress. Those were the days before email and I remember having to fax press releases and run to the local camera shop to have pictures developed and delivered to the Toronto head office by overnight courier. My fondest memory was the day the late Lou Seligson called and offered to do a column on me. Lou was legendary, noted for his reader friendly profiles accompanied by his signature caricatures.

There is no question the paper has a loyal following. This was obvious from the comments I received on my Twitter handle and Facebook when I posted the news of its demise. "What can we do?" on person asked. "How are Jewish organizations going to get their word out?" asked a local publicist.

Well folks, there are options. The Suburban is not a "Jewish" newspaper. However, our main city edition with its door to door circulation and numerous dropoffs does reach a significant Jewish population. We have always published Jewish community news and attracted Jewish organizational advertising. That will no doubt continue.

The Jewish Tribune, published by B'nai Brith Canada, is actually the largest circulation weekly Jewish newspaper in Canada. It has paid subscribers across the country and a large number of dropoffs. In addition to my role as city columnist, blogger and features writer for The Suburban, I have served as The Tribune's Quebec bureau chief for 14 years. The paper already has a good presence in Montreal, thanks to an ace circulation manager in Bruce Segal who makes sure it can be picked up in blue boxes scattered around the city, at synagogues, condos and different stores frequented by the Jewish community. Publisher Frank Dimant, the executive vice-president of B'nai Brith Canada, has already stated that the Tribune will fill the void.

“To ensure that the Jewish community, through its organizations, synagogues and fundraising groups, are able to keep their message in the forefront, the Jewish Tribune is immediately undertaking a review of its structure to accommodate increased editorial and advertising," Dimant stated. "In addition, while we have been examining a wider circulation in Montreal, we will now attempt to fast track this growth. We will also continue to increase the scope of our reporting and fill the vacuum that has been created and undertake to work together with the Federations to so the community is best served.”

The Tribune has an easy to navigate website, with quick access stories and a PDF version of each edition. That is much different from the CJN, which had an awkward online presence.

Montrealer Jews should not despair. Between The Suburban, The Jewish Tribune and a handful of smaller Jewish magazines they will still be well served. As for Jewish organizations, it would be nice for some of them to take a look at any personnel opportunities and put in calls to the likes of Arnold, Lazarus and Levy. They know this community better than anyone else and would each make fabulous publicists or programmers.

While the CJN has announced it closures, I just wonder whether this all might be a clever tactic to open the door for some white knight to come riding in to assume the ownership of the paper. Conrad Black is out of prison, living in Toronto with his Jewish wife Barbara Amiel and of course a former owner of The Jerusalem Post. Could he be a candidate? Unlikely, but worthy of speculation.

Chosen with the help of devoted fans and the MUCH VJ SEARCH mentors, Chloe Wilde from West Island Hudson, has officially been crowned the winner of the FRUCTIS FRUIT SENSATION PRESENTS: MUCH VJ SEARCH, and receives a contract for one of the hottest jobs in Canadian entertainment. After a fierce, month-long competition full of grueling challenges, shocking eliminations, a two-week bus tour across Canada, surviving “Camp Much,” and a whole lot of action, the FRUCTIS FRUIT SENSATION PRESENTS: MUCH VJ SEARCH winner was announced live on the April 26 show and emotional episode of the MUCH VJ SEARCH. Chloe begins her new job on MuchMusic next month.

Chloe Wilde

At 24 years of age, show officials sayChloe has exactly what it takes to be a MuchMusic VJ. Not just a pretty face, her well rounded knowledge on youth culture, coupled with her quirky and likeable delivery gives viewers a unique and authentic perspective on today’s fast-paced world of entertainment and music, that only Much can deliver.

“The MuchMusic VJ Search has been the most amazing experience, and I feel extremely lucky to be able to continue this great adventure as a VJ,” she said. “Thanks to everyone at MuchMusic and FRUCTIS FRUIT SENSATION for the experience of a lifetime. This would not have been possible without the incredible support of all my fans. Wilde-Ones, I am sending much love to all of you!”

Côte Saint-Luc's Brandon Elbaz was also in the running and had cracked the Top 20.

Here is Chloe's audition video:

Chosen from countless audition tapes, Chloe withstood the most challenging MUCH VJ SEARCH to date. From making it through to the Top 40, to surviving the first-ever MUCH VJ SEARCH on-the-road eliminations, and bunking with the Top 10 for two weeks at Much HQ, (appropriately named “Camp Much”), she has demonstrated she has all the skills required to come out on top as the winner of the FRUCTIS FRUIT SENSATION PRESENTS: MUCH VJ SEARCH.

The winner of the FRUCTIS FRUIT SENSATION PRESENTS: MUCH VJ SEARCH lands the coveted gig of Much VJ. As a Much VJ, Chloe gets to meet die-hard fans and interview mega, and up-and-coming celebrities, all while working out of the renowned Much HQ at 299 Queen St. West in Toronto. You can follow her on Twitter @DailyChloe.

Chloe already had a following before this show thanks to her starring role on the AskMen Video Channel. Here is a cute bit she did for Valentine's Day:

Via my job as communications and marketing specialist at the English Montreal School Board, I have been part of a terrific partnership we have enjoyed with the Montreal Impact soccer team for the past eight years now. During the off season, players visit schools and share with students the opportunity of playing an elite level of sport while maintaining the importance of a strong educational background. Then, in May or June, we have our annual Impact Night in which students, staff and their families buy tickets at a discounted price. We at the EMSB are recognized on the scoreboard and two students are awarded $500 scholarships.

In past years we have ran into poor weather conditions which affected the final turnout. Well this was definitely not the case on May 1, 2013, a date we chose many months ago not knowing the weather forecast or whether the Canadiens would be playing an important playoff game. We selected a game pitting Montreal against Toronto FC. This was part of the Amway Canadian Championship, which involves the four top professional clubs in Canada, in the race to qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League. That is an international competition between professional clubs from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Last week Montreal lost to Toronto 2-0. The way this tournament works, the Impact would have had to score three more goals than their opponent to advance to the next round. The final score was 6-0 Montreal. It was an absolutely spectacular game to watch, with tremendous excitement in the crowd (thanks in great part to the boisterous fan club known as the Ultras); the weather could not have been more beautiful; the stadium is a work of art; and thanks to a Rihanna Concert, the first Canadiens playoff game was scheduled for the following evening.

A view from up top

I was a soccer fan dating back to the days when the Montreal Manic packed Olympic Stadium back in the 1980s. Over the years I warmed up to the Impact, which thanks to team president Joey Saputo's tenacity were accepted to Major League Soccer and not only had this magnificent open air stadium built - but last year it was expanded. Folks, it is worth coming to a game just to experience the stadium. The Saputos need to be saluted for not asking the taxpayers to contribute a dime.

Personally, I do not expect the Canadiens to go past the first round this year. Check the Impact schedule out online and consider going to a game.

There are just over 20,000 seats, about one-third of which are covered in the event of rain. There is plenty of paid parking, the Viau Metro station on site and restaurants galore in the area.

A photo from field level.

Saputo has assembled a great staff, many of whom I have had the pleasure to get to know over the years. I must credit my good friend Mario Bentrovato for initiating this entire EMSB-Impact venture. At the EMSB office, my colleague Daniel Smajovits worked overtime with his Impact group sales contact Fern Da Silva in selling more than 2,600 tickets. Sporting Director Nick De Santis is an EMSB grad (John F. Kennedy High School) as is assistant coach Mauro Biello (St. Monica and Marymount). Director of Ticket Sales and Services Brian Weightman (whose brother Mark is COO of the Alouettes), Executive Vice-President Richard Legendre, Communications Director Patrick Vallée and Communications Coordinator Eric Forest are consummate professionals,

Matt Jordan

Director of Soccer Operations Matt Jordan is one impressive individual whom I got to meet for the first time. Jordan had a 13 year professional soccer career as a goalkeeper the last four with the Impact. He is a native of Denver, Colorado who graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and a minor in Sports Marketing. So it was a stroke of genius by Saputo to move him into the head office, where he oversees the day to day operations of the club, manages the salary and technical operation budget and serves as a liaison between the team and the league.

Jordan told me how he and his wife, along with their two young children, settled in St. Léonard. The kids now attend the EMSB's Honoré Mercier Elementary School and have picked up the French language nicely. His wife even spends time there as a volunteer librarian.

Here is my video interview with Jordan, in which he describes his job, his career and what it has been like settling in Montreal with his family.

Town of Mount Royal’s Michael Kounadis is one sharp fellow. The Selwyn Househigh school student made an immediate impression upon me as he stepped to the microphone as part of a well produced program organized by the McGill University Health Centre (MUCH).

Kounadis, whose dad Dennis is one of the city’s sharpest lawyers, was taking part in the public kick-off of The Toonie Challenge, an MUHC initiative involving local Montreal schools. Students have been busy collecting toonies for the MUHC Foundation as part of the hospital’s Best Care for Life Campaign, which supports the building of the new Glen site and vital equipment purchases. The long-term fundraising goal is to raise 69,000 toonies ($138,000), enough to circle the entire Glen site (1,932 metres) if placed end-to-end.

Held at Glen Hall of the new MUCH Administrative Centre next to the Vendome Metro and a short walk from the new super hospital which will be completed in the fall of 2014, the ceremony fed on the enthusiasm of youngsters like Kounadis who spoke about how they organized their own toonie challenges. “We did a bake sale during Valentine’s Day,” Kounados explained, “and a joint school carnival with The Study.”

A total of $14,012 was raised – representing 7,006 toonies. Besides Selwyn House, other QAIS (Quebec Association of Independent Schools) participating schools were ECS, Lower Canada College,Sacred Heart,The Study,Trafalgar,Vanguard, Villa Maria and Queen of Angels. Tim Peters from the PriorySchool was there with some student ambassadors and Irene Miller from the English Montreal School Board, each party observing for possible participation next year.

Students proudly display a large version of the cheque, representing the money raised in the Toonie Challenge.That is Michael Kounadis, second row, fifth from the right.

At ECS, for instance, the students sold smoothies for $4 (two toonies) , organized toonie races (lining toonies up along the ground) and held a free dress day. The latter was a common activity at most schools.

Dr. Preetha Krishnamoorthy, an attending physician of the Division of Endocrinology &Metabolism at the Montreal Children’s Hospital,addressed the group. A truly dynamic speaker, she spoke with great enthusiasm about the new facility. She explained that when her patients turn 18 she must say good-bye and send them to another building. “With the new campus my patients will go right next door,” she said.

Dr. Jonathan Meakins, Director of the Heritage Centre of the MUHC, praised the Toonie Challenge and noted that this initial donation represents 10 percent of the toonies necessary to surround the new site.

Following the presentation, students will be invited to visit a variety of health kiosks covering topics such as nutrition, the importance of volunteering, nursing, trauma prevention and more.

After the speeches, students and guests circulated around the room to browse at different information kiosks dealing with everything from archival items to nutrition.

One month after opening its doors for the first time in Quebec, the new P.F. Chang’s China Bistro is bringing in the crowds at its gorgeous Montreal location on Rue des Jockeys next to the former Blue Bonnets Raceway and off of the Decarie Expressway.

Aronovici (right) and director of operations Cary Mausner.

I was there for a daytime visit on the eve of its formal opening to meet the founder of the international chain, Philip Chiang. But other commitments prevented me from attending a couple of VIP celebrations. My family and I finally got to try it out on May 17 and it was everything we expected it to be and more. We have always been huge fans of P.F. Chang’s, dining there every chance we came close to one while travelling in the States. In January we ate at the first Canadian location in Toronto. It was cold mid-week evening and the place was packed. Well, Michael Aronovici, the man who has brought P.F. Chang’s to Canada, really thought this over very well. You know what they say about “location, location, location.” In Toronto, a trendy shopping plaza in Don Mills was chosen. Rue des Jockeys here is centrally located and it has already attracted a loyal following of regulars. On June 17, Aronovici’s Interaction Asian Restaurants will debut the next P.F. Chang’s at Carrefour Laval.

We arrived at 7:30 p.m. Outside, the valet parking attendants were busy while inside sat dozens of people with pagers, patiently waiting for tables. I saw many familiar faces. One of them was Aronovici, who was there with his own family.

Manager Emile Haykel was supervising the busy kitchen, the bar and the two levels of seating. Our waiter was Eric, an enthusiastic young man who treated us to the chain’s traditional creation of a special dipping sauce, done right before your very eyes. Each server has their own mixtures.

Each dish on the P.F. Chang’s menu is prepared to order using the freshest and highest quality ingredients. The environment at each location combines influences of Chinese and American cultures. A panoramic, hand-painted mural depicting 12th century China, is visible from the main dining room and commands attention as the restaurant’s centerpiece, while several terra-cotta warriors stand guard. The majestic 11 foot tall horses grace the entrance to many of the restaurants, including Montreal. This horse symbolizes the original Forbidden City in China, which was built for China’s first emperor Qin Shi Huangdi.

The trademark lettuce wraps.

I started off with some won ton soup, containing pork wontons, mushrooms, fresh spinach, water chestnuts, chicken and shrimp in a savory chicken broth. Then it was time for P.F. Chang’s signature chicken lettuce wraps: wok seared minced chicken, mushrooms, green onions and water chestnuts served over crispy rice sticks with cool, crisp lettuce cups.

Crispy honey chicken.

This is a place where sharing dishes makes the most sense. My recommendation is the Mongolian beef (tender flank steak wok-cooked then quickly tossed with scallions and garlic), crispy honey shrimp (lightly battered and tossed in a sweet and tangy honey sauce with green onions), crispy honey chicken (lightly battered and served in a sweet sauce over a bed of crispy rice sticks), double pan-fried noodles (crisp egg noodles stir-fried with mushrooms, bok choy, carrots, celery and onions and comes with a choice of beef, pork, chicken, shrimp or vegetable) and a bowl of steamed rice.

We had just enough room to share some mini-desserts, served in shot glasses. Not too filling. We sampled the triple chocolate mousse, the tres leche lemon dream and the tiramisu,

When we got ready to leave, towards 9:45p.m., large groups of people were still filing in. P.F. Chang’s does take reservations, but leaves about 25 percent of the availability for walk-ins.

This new Montreal locale can seat 280 people, plus 50 on the unique terrace which even has heaters for when the weather turns a bit nippy. There is a staff of 170.

You can log on to www.pfchangs.ca to see the menu. Takeout is available. You can call 514-731-2020 for reservations. The restaurant is also opened for lunch, with some great deals.

Here is the interview I did with Aronovici and Philip Chiang last month.

Listeners to Montreal radio are no doubt familiar with the name of Esteban Vargas. These days he is the producer of the CHOM FM Morning Show with Terry DiMonte and Heather Backman. He also oversees The Comedy Show with Joey Elias on CJAD a few nights per week. "This was actually part of my old position over on the production side of things on CJAD, but I insisted I keep it being the huge comedy fan I am," he says. "Joey is also just great to work with!"

But a true labour of love for Vargas is the Montreal Music Scene (MMS), one of the city's oldest and most active online music communities for independent artists and listeners. MMS recently announced the relaunch and re-branding of its image and website, with work done by Raymon Fong.

The relaunch will be celebrated at a kick-off party on Sunday, May 26 at Co-op Katacombes (1635 Boul. St. Laurent) and will feature local Montreal artists and acts such as The Damn Truth (acoustic), Dead Messenger, Patrick Lehman,and more. It will be hosted by Montreal actor/comedian Mike Paterson. MMS will also host a barbeque throughout the night.

Tickets can be purchased through www.admission.com, 514-790-1245, and in person at Sound Central (4486 Coloniale). They are $12, plus service fees. All proceeds will go to the Montreal Children’s Hospital and their Music Therapy Program.

From its humble beginnings over a decade ago, MMS now boasts one of the largest active music message boards and communities in Eastern Canada, bringing together bands and fans alike. They remain an important player in the Montreal music community.With this launch, Varagas and Rose Agozzino hope that MMS will again become a household name within the city’s music scene, while expanding its reach on a national and international scale.

"MMS and the launch party is a labour of love from a group of contributors who are passionate about music and the local scene," Vargas says. "We have everything from professional photographers to writers to designers to musicians"

Some of the names currently on the project include Big James (from band Endast), Carl Roloff, Jennifer Lariviere, Jenny King, Michelle Pucci, Rebecca Munroe, Valerie Pyke and co-organizer Agozzino.

For more information check out Facebook.com/MontrealMusicScene or follow them on Twitter @montrealmusic.

Here is a clip of Mike Paterson.

Weir and Lozoff

The first significant announcement from City Montreal has been made. When the new 30-minute weekly sports magazine show Montreal Connected premieres on Thursday, May 30 at 7 p.m. Sportsnet reporter Alyson Lozoff of NDG and television personality Wilder Weir from Beaconsfield will serve as co-hosts. A press release says that the English-language program will take audiences beyond the game highlights for an in-depth look at the city’s professional and amateur teams, along with athlete profiles and feature stories on local, national, and international sports.

Following the May 30 premiere, Montreal Connected will air Thursdays at 7 p.m. with encores on Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. on City Montreal. Beginning June 1, Sportsnet East will air Montreal Connectedon Saturdays at noon ET.

"Montreal is a great sports city, and Montrealers support not only their pro teams but embrace amateur and collegiate sports as well,” said Scott Moore, President, Broadcast, Rogers Media. “With in-depth coverage and exclusive access to the city’s illustrious sports scene, Montreal Connected offers audiences a unique perspective on professional and amateur sports with a Montreal-centric view, plus a look at stories of interest at the national and international levels.”

"It's a dream come true!" Lozoff told me. "Montreal Connected will offer Montrealers a unique view of its sports teams, athletes and events among other experiences and I am thrilled to be there every step of the way leading them on the adventure!"

Lozoff was born and raised in NDG. She first discovered her passion for sports broadcasting when she worked as an in-game host during Montreal Canadiens games. Officially hooked on the gig after reporting live from the Red Bull Crashed Ice finish line, Lozoff joined Sportsnet in 2012, regularly covering the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Alouettes, and Montreal Impact. A lawyer in Ontario and Quebec, Lozoff received a Civil Law Degree, a Common Law Degree, and a Masters Degree in Law at l’Université de Montréal. She also studied at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing, where she obtained a Chinese Law Study Certificate. She was also a Miss Teen Canada and visited many schools on the island to speak out against bullying.

Weir, raised in Beaconsfield, is the son of retired professional hockey player, Wally Weir. The puck was passed to Weir who continued his father’s legacy playing senior hockey for Lower Canada College and making the varsity team at Queen’s University. He also attended St. George's School of Montreal at the elementary level.

A budding hockey star, in 2005 Weir made his television debut as a hockey player in the Canadian reality series Making the Cut: Last Man Standing, a program that pitted Canada’s top 60 amateur hockey players against each other. His transition to an on-air television personality occurred in 2008 as host of national television series Oh So Cosmo, where Weir then worked on-air for six consecutive seasons. He returns home to Montreal with countless celebrity interviews, live event hosting, and on-air experience under his belt.

"I always had my eye on coming back here," Weir told me. "When I need Making the Cut in 2005 I met Scott Moore. He ended up helping me get by job at TSN. We lost touch, but three or four months ago I ran into him and told him that my contract hosting Oh So Cosmo was up. We got to talking; I had some screen tests and I got this job. It is really exciting."

Wally Weir now works for the Port of Montreal and loves to golf. Wilder has temporarily moved back to Beaconsfield and taken up residence in his old room, making Wally and mom Wendy pretty happy. Younger brother Wyatt lives downtown and just graduated from Concordia's John Molson School of Business.

How did he get the name Wilder? "My mom and dad were high school sweethearts," he explains. "Many years ago my mom was in the hospital with a weird strain of pneumonia. So my dad was wandering the halls and he saw this plaque for Dr. Wilder Penfield. He thought to himself that when Wendy gets better, if I marry her and if we have a boy, we will name him Wilder because he liked how it sounded. Apparently my mom said 'no way,' but it happened."

In addition to Lozoff and Weir, the roster of talent joining Montreal Connectedalso includes Sportsnet’s award-winning Stephen Brunt, considered one of Canada’s top sports journalists; Sean Gordon, Globe and Mail sports reporter; Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette sportswriter; and Arpon Basu, managing editor at NHL.com.

Montreal Connectedwill be produced by three-time world water ski champion and member of the Order of Canada and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, George Athans, alongside Kelly Greig, a former producer in Montreal. Bob Babinski is Executive Producer and Local Content Manager, City Montreal, Jordan Schwartz is Vice-President, In-House Production, Rogers Media, Scott Woodgate is Vice-President, News & Information, Sportsnet, and Scott Moore is President of Broadcast, Rogers Media.

Here is a clip of Wally Weir fighting Chris Nilan.

Lis Travers

CTV Montreal has a recent history of hiring some of the nicest and most professional individuals to carry out the key position of Director of News and Public Affairs. Jed Kahane fulfills that role today. His predecessor, Mike Piperni, a prince of an individual is now with RDS. Lis Travers was the news boss before Piperni. NIne and a half years ago she was offered the chance to move to Toronto and become executive producer of Canada AM , our country's national morning newsmagazine. Since its launch in 1972, the show has brought Canadians a unique blend of hard news and lifestyle stories, featuring in-depth interviews with top newsmakers, celebrities and musical stars.

It was a tough decision, even though this was a post she had always looked upon as a great career opportunity. Her husband, Steve Hayward, was a CTV Montreal cameraman and their two daughters, Ingela and Mia, were teens at the time. Nonetheless, they agreed that this was a wonderful opportunity, sold their Pointe Claire home and headed down Highway 401. Ingela, 28, is now working in the TV industry while Mia, 23, is in the travel business. Steve has turned to writing.

Travers also worked for CBC and Global here , actually starting up the latter's newsroom in 1998. She puts in long hours at Canada AM, often coming in towards 6:30 a.m. and not leaving for another 12 hours. "We've done a lot here," she says. "I felt that one of the reasons they brought me in was to attach a sense of community to the show."

I worked very closely with Lis during his days here, but kind of lost touch since she became the vice-president and executive producer of Canada AM. We reconnected today to discuss the exciting live broadcasts of the show planned for Montreal June 6 and 7.

Hosts Beverly Thomson, Marci Ien, and Jeff Hutcheson are heading to Montreal for these

Ien, Hutchison and Thomson

two special broadcasts . Montrealers are in fact being invited to be a part of the live, outdoor audience on Thursday, June 6 at Place des Arts, and Friday, June 7 in the heart of Old Montreal in Place Jacques Cartier. From 6-9 a.m. ET, Canada AM will host an array of special guests as they celebrate Montreal and help launch the city’s festival season. Montreal viewers are invited to “venez en grands nombres,” and should arrive at Place des Arts early to get a good spot for the free, non-ticketed broadcast.

The Montreal remote actually came about following a chat between Travers and Tanya Churchmuch, a former Global reporter now working for Tourism Montreal. "I am really excited about this," says Travers."There is a great lineup viewers can look forward to."

Highlights include:

Thursday, June 6

•    MONTREAL’S LIVING HISTORY: Documentary filmmaker, columnist, and life-long Montrealer Josh Freed gives Bev a tour of his Montreal, sharing why he would never live anywhere else.
•    A CITY OF SPORTS FANS: From Les Canadiens and the Alouettes, to countless Olympic champs – the show looks at the depth of love Montrealers have for their sports heroes.
•    AISLIN’S MONTREAL – Canada’s best-known political cartoonist, Terry Mosher - better known as Aislin - has sketched his way through the history of the city, province and country. He shows his favourites and explains why Montreal is such fertile ground for a political cartoonist.
•    FASHION FANTASTIQUE – Marci goes on a whirlwind visit of Montreal’s fashion hot spots with the queen of fashion herself, Jeanne Beker. Jeanne gives Marci the inside scoop on top fashion and top deals.
•    STREET MEAT GETS AN UPGRADE – Montreal is finally joining the world of food trucks… but not just any food trucks. Jeff, Marci, and Bev get to sample Montreal’s brand new fleet as it gets ready to hit the street.
•    ALL THAT JAZZ AND TICKLING THE FUNNY BONE – They put Montreal on the festival map. The founder of Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, André Ménard, and the COO of the Just for Laughs festival, Bruce Hills, join Canada AM. Together, they reminisce about the huge acts that got their start at these landmark festivals, and preview what’s coming up at this year’s events.
•    LES 7 DOIGTS DE LA MAIN – The unique circus group getting rave reviews from around the world, Les 7 doigts de la main, perform in front of the live audience.
•    98 DEGREES – Nick Lachey and his hit 90s boy band are back! Grammy-nominated 98 Degrees performs three songs live on - a warm up to their performance at Montreal’s Bell Centre that night. The band will give away one set of tickets one lucky audience member.

Friday, June 7

Jeff Hutcheson sticks around, keeping the Montreal festivities going:

•    GREGORY CHARLES – This dynamic performer has sold out the BELL Centre for multiple nights before bringing his Vintage Experience performance to Montreal’s Old Port for the summer. This morning, he performs live from his repertoire that will astound, while taking requests from the audience.
•    SCHWARTZ’S DELI – Jeff not only gets a taste of the Montreal landmark, but he’ll also slap on a uniform and an attitude, and get to work.
•    A SPACE FOR LIFE – Mosaïcultures International Montreal displays a Space For Life – a fantastic display of horticultural art from around the world. It opens June 22, but Jeff gets a behind the scenes preview while these green-thumbed artists are setting up.

There are no politicians listed, but Travers confirmed that she hopes to get Mayor Michael Applebaum to come on the air.

When City Montreal's new Breakfast Television program debuts at the end of August, head man Bob Babinski promises a show with lots of fun. Well, he has just made one heck of a hire in Jeffrey Feldman as a supervising producer.

Jeffrey Feldman

Feldman has spent the past nine years as a producer for CTV's eTalk, using his endless array of contacts to bring the show everything and anything occurring in Montreal. "During my time on the show, I have had the great fortune of working with outstanding people both at CTV Montreal and, of course, the dynamic team behind Canada's number one entertainment show," he said in an email to friends and family. " Not a single day passed when I didn’t consider myself tremendously fortunate to be in a position to meet such interesting people from all walks of life and all over the planet. I still can’t believe I was able to work with, and get to know, members from two former Canadian Prime Ministers’ families."

Of course Feldman is talking about eTalk co-host Ben Mulroney and former Quebec correspondent Sophie Gregoire, the wife of Justin Trudeau.

Feldman says he met just about every A-lister, living legend, actor , Olympian, singer, comedian, super model - even royal family members. " I have infinite appreciation for the publicists, agents, directors of marketing, assistants, interns plus the other unsung heroes who surround all these personalities and big ticket events on a daily basis to make things actually happen. I will be forever enriched and humbled having experienced these moments."

Feldman is actually a Torontonian who came here as a publicist, moved back to his hometown, and then returned in September 2006 to take the eTalk gig.

Babinski has signed a star.

We can now report that Olympic diving champion Alexandre Despatie and CBC's Joanne Vrakas will co-host the show, with Beaconsfield's Wilder Weir serving as the roving reporter, He also a co-host of the Montreal Connected sports program. Here are all of the details courtesy of the magnificent Fagstein blog.

The City of Laval has been making a lot of headlines these past few months and not for good reasons. Former Mayor Gilles Vaillancourt and the corruption scandal have given Quebec’s second largest city a bad name. Recently, the government placed Laval under trusteeship. Well, I have something nice to say.

A mile down the street from the Boulevard Souvenir City Hall is a makeshift tent village which serves as the home of the internationally acclaimed Cavalia’s Odysseo, the magnicent horse and acrobatics show which simply took my breath away from the moment the program began. Entering this complex feels a bit surreal. For some reason Laval has kept this huge piece of land where Souvenir meets Highway 15 vacant for years. And it makes the ideal locale to stage this spectacle.

I was treated to a behind the scenes tour of the 38-metre tall White Top and the stables by Director Wayne Fowkes and top-notch publicist Annie Leclerc. This was a week before I actually saw the show and let me say I still have goose bumps. There is ample parking and Laval has done a superb job with the signage around town, making sure you can find the precise entrance. It is $10 a car.

A scene from the extraordinary grand finale.

It is very hard to believe that this is not a permanent structure as it is so well assembled. I took in an afternoon show, where a capacity crowd of 2,000 people waited impatiently for the program to begin. There were folks of all ages and even the little babies sitting near me were mesmerized by the extraordinary scenery, gorgeous horses and beyond talented acrobats.

The program begins with a bilingual quiz, with questions appearing across the curtains such as how many horses are in the show. They gave you three choices and then ask for hands to go up for each answer. Loud applause can be heard each time an answer is posted. It is the perfect warm up before more than half a dozen horses trot on to the sandy stage.

This is a two hour show, with a 30 minute intermission and it truly goes by fast. I would certainly say that there is probably no program combining the grace of these 67 horses and crew of acrobats as good anywhere in the world. While it tours the globe, this is a made in Quebec operation so we are fortunate to have it here every couple of years. This run was supposed to end its run on June 15, but it has been held over until July 21.

The advertising campaign for Odysseo is extensive. You cannot drive anywhere in this city without seeing a giant billboard, not to mention newspaper, television and radio ads. I was blown away when a real carousel dropped from the ceiling of the tent and a 302,000-litre lake appeared for the grand finale. There are three IMAX screens.

Director Fowkes was born in Leeds, Great Britain. He now lives in Austria with his family, having began his career as a singer and dancer in London’s West End, where he performed in several big shows. His career path led him to explore choreography and artistic direction, among other things, for television productions in Great Britain and Europe. At age 30, he became resident director for Andrew Lloyd Webber. In 2000, he took on a huge London venue, the Millennium Dome, as artistic coordinator. The same year he became the artistic director for Notre-Dame-de-Paris, also overseeing its subsequent adaptations in eight different languages. Shortly after, in 2004, Fowkes became artistic director for the musical Don Juan. In 2007 he directed his very first production, Butterflies, presented in Beijing. For Wayne, working with horses in a creative environment is a totally new adventure and an eye-opening experience. He created Odysseo two years ago, but says the Laval presentation has many new elements. “It is now a much more mature show,” he told me. “We have solidified and added some new scenes and the reviews have been amazing. No director can ask for more. The reception we get each night from the audience is extraordinary. There is quite simply something for everybody.”

I last saw Cavalia about four years ago, when it the makeshift city surfaced on a big chunk of vacant land off Highway 40 near Lucerne in TMR. That land has since been built upon.

Ticket prices range between $45 and $139 plus tax. For a memorable evening, the Rendez-Vous package offers the best seats in the house, exquisite buffet-dinning before the show, open bar, deserts during intermission, and an exclusive visit of the stable after the show. This unique VIP experience takes place in a luxurious tent alongside the White Big Top. The VIP package prices range from $165 to $246. Tickets for Cavalia’s Odysseo are available online at www.cavalia.net, on the phone by calling 1-866-999-8111, or in person at the box office on the show site.

See The Suburban on June 12, 2013 for my full story.

Here is a preview of the show.

Local boy Elbaz in the MuchMusicVJ hunt

How newest Jewish Hab Halpern would respond to Passover`s four questions

Dic Ann’s to open its first ever downtown location

Yeh! yogurt chain to open at the Quartier Cavendish (Mall)

Locals Elbaz and Wilde in the MuchMusic VJ hunt

Andrea Collins moves to Virgin morning shift: Bergman back on the air

Stem cell donor drives for four year old girl move to Vancouver, Toronto and US

Amazing discovery leads to redefinition of this woman’s roots!

A Coderre- Applebaum coalition for Montreal?

Tampa Bay Lightning players like burgers, poutine and chocolate milk

The CJEnd: How will Jewish community cope with the closure of its newspaper?

West Island Montreal's Chloe Wilde wins prestigious MUCHMUSIC VJ Search

Making Impact: A soccer game at Saputo Stadium is excellent entertainment

The Toonie Challenge: a great initiative for students to support MUHC

New P.F. Chang's Montreal location is already a big hit

Montreal Music Scene plans one rocking party on Sunday

New City Montreal TV sports show announces local hosts Lozoff and Weir

Canada AM set for June 6 and 7 Montreal broadcasts: homecoming for show's boss Travers

City Montreal makes key behind the scenes hire in Feldman

Cavalia's 2013 presentation of Odysseo is breathtaking