DARING TO CARE
Al-Ubaidi a force in NDG
By Dan Delmar The Suburban Recently recognized by the YMCA for her community work in NDG, Halal Al- Ubaidi says helping those most in need is often fulfilling and sometimes a tireless, never-ending struggle. The Iraqi national has been living in Canada for 12 years and is a fixture at the NDG Community Council, where she is a coordinator. Before coming to Montreal, she spent seven years in Jordan after the first Gulf War devastated her home country. There, she helped set up a recycling program in the capital of Amman ? something relatively unheard of at the time ? and helped many Jordanians separate paper and plastic for the first time. ?It was very difficult,? Al-Ubaidi said, ?but I had lots of support from the environmental group (that employed her).? Without permanent residency status, she was forced to choose between living in Jordan and having to give up her Iraqi citizenship, or once again moving to a new country. She chose Canada, and added to her engineering degree in 2001 with a Masters in urban planning from McGill. With the help of Emploi-Quebec, she then landed a job at the NDGCC. ?It has been a very fulfilling experience,? she told The Suburban. In November, she accepted a YMCA Peace Quest for the best winner... Award for her work in the community. ?It depends on the day? sometimes you get frustrated and sometimes you?re happy.? Part of the frustration, Al-Ubaidi said, is a lack of support for community workers in Montreal. The pay is low, their work is conducted on a grant-to-grant basis and thoughts of unionization, pension plans or dental coverage are pipe dreams, for now. With this kind of social work, some of the only benefits are immaterial. Al-Ubaidi has her hands full with a number of activities at the NDGCC: She organizes meetings between community groups to make sure efforts are coordinated and work isn?t duplicated, she meets with borough officials to make them aware of pressing issues, and publicizes any events put on by the groups in the area. She is also helping to organize the NDGCC?s annual Christmas dinner, which is served free of charge on Dec. 25 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., to anyone in need or who is looking for a warm, welcoming atmosphere for the holidays. The event will include performances and last year, about 650 people attended. Receiving funding from the provincial and municipal governments, and from Centraide, isn?t quite meeting the needs Quest for the best winner... Quest for the best winnerMEAL DEAL
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See AL-UBAIDI, page 26 17C9 Quest for the best winner... Quest for the best winner NDG Tuesday, January 5th: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm and starting Tuesday, February 2nd Day Class ? 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm 514-272-5271, ext. 164, for English ext. 864 The only organization founded by Master Moy Lin-shin, the International Taoist Tai Chi Society was founded in 1970 and now has 40 thousand members in 28 countries. Active in 65 locations in Quebec, the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada is a national charitable organization (no 119258655RR0001) dedicated to promoting health in the community through the practice of the Taoist Tai Chi TM internal arts of health. ® S Quest for the best winner...WE KEEP KOSHER
Kosher meat and deli specials are available at our 5201 Queen Mary Rd. store only. MEATS CHAI Whole Chicken MARVID Chicken Breasts Bone-In MEHADRIN Beef Rib Roast or Rib Steak MEHADRIN Beef Stew DELI RUBASHKIN Turkey Pastrami or Smoked Turkey Breast CONTINENTAL Smoked Beef Shoulder GLATT?S Midget Salami 375 g 6 59 /kg 2 99 /lb299
/lb719 8
/lb39
6 /lb 59 /kg18
50 /kg15
85 /kg1239 12
/lb 69 /lb2731 27
/kg 98 /kg 4 39 Kosher fish specials valid from December 30th, 2009 to January 12th, 2010. FISHNANUK Smoked Sockeye Salmon Frozen, Sliced, 225 g GROCERY12
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Assorted, 650 ml 2 49 No sale to merchants. Kosher meat specials valid from December 30th, 2009 to January 12th, 2010. GLATT?S Medium Ground Beef GLATT?S Beef Chuck Roll1872
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/lb CONTINENTAL Beef Short Ribs (Flanken) CONTINENTAL Veal Stew Kosher vegetables and fruits specials valid from December 30th, 2009 to January 5th, 2010. FRUITS Honeydew Imported, Size 8 VEGETABLES OSEM Mini Mandel Croutons 400 g 2 MENDELSON Pizza 4 slices, 454 g SUNSWEET Prune Nectar 946 ml Noodle Bowl Noodles, Assorted, 240 g MOTHER?S Egg Noodles Assorted, 283 g Metro Place Wilderton 2875 Van Horne, Montreal739-3139
Metro Queen Mary 5201 Queen Mary Road, Montreal488-5171
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/kg739 /lb1761
/kg799 /lb CONTINENTAL Yager569
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/kg Sunkist Navel Seedless Oranges Product of California, Size 113 299 8/
2 99 Extra Large Green Peppers Product of U.S.439
/kg199 /lb49
529 299 2
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1 59 THE SUBURBAN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2009 9
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