The last time Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper stepped foot in the federal riding of Mount Royal for a major keynote address was on the eve of the May 2011 election when he spoke at a gathering at the Snowdon YM-YWHA. Last December he did in fact return to the riding for an appearance at a Federation CJA Gelber Centre Chanukah gathering, where 1,000 people attended and he and his wife stuck around for several hours.
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| Prime Minister Harper |
Well, four years later and the next federal vote set for next October, he'll be the keynote speaker at a gala dinner on Thursday, May 21 which is honouring two prominent Mount Royal residents and actually taking place in the riding of St. Laurent - Cartierville, more specifically the Crowne Plaza on Cote de Liesse. Insiders tell me that Harper`s security detail settled on that locale specifically and with more than 1,000 people expected no local synagogue could handle such a crowd.
Based on an email chain many thought it was going to be held at the Congregation Chevra Kadisha B'nai Jacob Beit Hazikaron Beth Hillel in Snowdon. It will be hosted by the Jewish Community Council of Montreal and chaired by Silver Star Mercedes Benz owner Sam Eltes and his son Jonathan. The keynote address will be delivered by the president of the World Jewish Congress, Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder.
Based on an email chain many thought it was going to be held at the Congregation Chevra Kadisha B'nai Jacob Beit Hazikaron Beth Hillel in Snowdon. It will be hosted by the Jewish Community Council of Montreal and chaired by Silver Star Mercedes Benz owner Sam Eltes and his son Jonathan. The keynote address will be delivered by the president of the World Jewish Congress, Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder.
"As our Prime Minister continues to demonstrate unwavering support to Jewish communities throughout Canada and to our homeland Israel, let us gather to express our appreciation and support a true friend!" says Rabbi Asher Jacobson, spiritual leader of Chevra Kadish, who is getting the word out.
The cost per couple is $360, of which $260 is tax deductible. All proceeds will be going to the Lynn Eltes Memorial Ezrath Torah Fund, for the purpose of furthering Jewish education in the community.
Mount Royal Conservatives will choose their next candidate at a nominating convention on April 26 at the YM-YWHA. The winner between French language television personality Pascale Déry, veteran politician and architect Robert Libman or lawyer and longtime Conservative insider Neil Drabkin will face off against Côte Saint-Luc Mayor Anthony Housefather, who handily won the Liberal nomination last fall and has been in campaign mode for more than a year.
I am sure we should be hearing about Liberal leader Justin Trudeau visiting the riding before long. Over the years he has visited the park named after his late father in Côte Saint-Luc and Bialik High School.
I am sure we should be hearing about Liberal leader Justin Trudeau visiting the riding before long. Over the years he has visited the park named after his late father in Côte Saint-Luc and Bialik High School.