2 * THE SUBURBAN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2010

Around the Towns

MASTERPIECES 4 MADA VERNISSAGE

Liberal MP and former astronaut Marc Garneau is joining the MADA Community Centre June 17 from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., "for an evening of art, warmth and purpose, MASTERPIECES 4 MADA," says a MADA announcement. "Garneau, known for his heartwarming nature, will intrigue guests at our gala event at the Wolf Showroom, 6320 Côte de Liesse, with his experience of space travel." The organization says the event is a fundraiser "to help find greatly need money for MADA's food bank. Last year MADA's food bank supplied 5,250,000 pounds of food to Montreal's community members in need. We strive to keep up with the continuous influx of requests for help."

MUSIC AND ART LECTURE AT CSL LIBRARY

Côte St. Luc's Eleanor London Library is presenting the lecture: Passion for Music & Art: "Revolutions of the 20th Century: Breaking the Rules" Thursday, June 17 at 11 a.m.. "Music librarian Farah Mohammed and artist and library programs manager Mona Turner present the new sights and sounds of early Modernism," says a library announcement. Admission is free. For more information, call the library at 514-485-6900.

CSL-SCHOOLS COLLABORATE ON ORGANIC WASTE

Côte St. Luc recently announced that four local schools use the city's organic waste collection service to dispose of food scraps, paper towels and other organics generated by students and teachers. "The two latest schools to launch organic waste programs are École de la Mosaique on McMurray Ave. and Merton School on Merton Road," says a city announcement. "They join Bialik High School and the Jewish People's Peretz School (JPPS) Children's Centre, which previously launched similar wastediversion efforts." "Côte St. Luc has been a leader in residential collection of organic waste and now we are expanding to include institutions like schools," Mayor Anthony Housefather said. "We're not only diverting more waste in certain schools. We're also creating ambassadors for the city who will then help teach or remind their parents what goes inside the brown bin, the blue bin and the garbage bin."

HAMPSTEAD DAY

The Town of Hampstead is holding its annual Hampstead Day, the Town's first event of the summer. The event is taking place Monday June 21 at 4 p.m. at Hampstead Park, 30 Lyncroft. In case of rain on that day, Hampstead Day will take place Tuesday June 22 at 4 p.m. "Planned activities include inflatable games, petting zoos and ponies, a rock climbing wall, "The Fundamentals" performing live, and many more," says a town announcement. "New this year, the Montreal Jazzkidz Orchestra will be performing live on the main stage and BMX and skateboard stunt shows will take place at 7 and 8:30 p.m. Back by popular demand, Hampstead's giant birthday cake will be cut by the mayor at 8 p.m. The evening then concludes with a fireworks display scheduled for 9:40 p.m. "Support this great event by purchasing a bracelet for the rides at $3 for toddler rides and $5 for all rides. Food (kosher food available) and beverages will be available at a cost." "As always, our marquee event is highly anticipated. We look forward to welcoming all our friends See AROUND THE TOWNS, page 3

PAGE TWO

B'nai Brith Canada elects new president

B'nai Brith Canada has announced that Montrealer Eric Bissell has been elected national president of the organization. Bissell is president of Castleton Financial Ltd., a mortgage finance and real estate advisory firm. Before that, he was president of International Mercantile Financial Ltd., which specializes in asset-based lending. Bissell has been heavily active in financial and industry associations, including as president of the Canadian Conference of Commercial Finance and Factoring. As part of Publisher: Michael Sochaczevski Associate Publisher: Sari Medicoff VP Business Development & Marketing: David Solomon Sales Manager: David Broadman Production Manager: Karen L. Cross Classified Manager: Charmaine Worrell Credit Manager: Carol Balinsky 7575 Trans-Canada Highway, Suite 105, St. Laurent, QC H4T 1V6 (514) 484-1107 (Fax) 484-9616 suburban@thesuburban.com www.thesuburban.com Some images and graphics Copyright 2009 Michael Publishing and its licensors. All rights reserved. B'nai Brith Canada, Bissell has been its national vice-president, chair of the Quebec foundation, chair of the Food Baskets Golf Tournament and, for the past six years, co-chair of the organization's annual Award of Merit dinner. Bissell is also a member of the Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue in Westmount and the Beth-El Synagogue in Town of Mount Royal. Among those also elected into executive positions, from Montreal, were new vice-presidents Nicole Allio and Moise Moghrabi. n Editor-in-chief: Beryl Wajsman (editor@thesuburban.com) Associate Editor: Anthony Bonaparte (anthony@thesuburban.com) Sports Editor: Mark Lidbetter (sports@thesuburban.com) Editorial Staff: Joel Ceausu, Dan Delmar, Julia Gerke, Joel Goldenberg, Walter J. Lyng, P.A. Sévigny, Samantha St. Jules, Kevin Woodhouse Eric Bissell

Taxi driver's rights case continues

By Joel Goldenberg The Suburban Côte St. Luc resident and taxi driver Arieh Perecowicz's rights case continued in Montreal municipal court last week, as he contested six $166 tickets he received over several months for having a photo of his daughter, wife, Jewish religious artifacts, a poppy and Canadian flag in his vehicle. The Taxi Bureau has contended that Perecowicz violated a bylaw prohibiting taxis from containing anything unnecessary to the function of a taxi, while the driver contended that his constitutional rights to freedom of religion and expression are being violated. The last hearing was in early May, when Perecowicz was interrogating taxi inspector Stephanie Johnson. At that time, it was established that Johnson had never given a ticket for a religious item in a taxi. That interrogation of Johnson continued June 7 in front of Judge Dominique Joly, and focused on a ticket given by Johnson to the driver on Oct. 31, 2007. Perecowicz produced 17 photos which Johnson confirmed taking that day, and asked her why his two mezuzahs, a Jewish religious artifact, were not among the photos taken that day, while they were included when a previous ticket was given. "It was something I didn't think about at the time," Johnson said. But Perecowicz countered that when a previous ticket was given by her in 2007, they had a lengthy discussion about why the mezuzahs should not be in the taxi, in terms of it being a seat belt obstruction. "It was simply something I forgot [on Oct. 31, 2007]," Johnson said. Perecowicz then directly asked Johnson if, in her opinion as an inspector, a mezuzah is allowed to be in a taxi. "According to the bylaw, having unnecessary objects is what the defendant is being charged with," Johnson said. "If a taxi has one article, the bureau would usually tolerate it, when it's not in your face. But when it obstructs objects ... it's not simply because of two mezuzahs, it's the total amount of objects." Perecowicz said that in the January 2007 encounter, there was discussion of minimizing or relocating the mezuzahs, or placing them at a different angle. "The answer was they all have to go out," he said. "The taxi has to be like it just came out of the dealership, with no articles posted anywhere in the taxi except what is essential," Johnson said. "All that is technical- ly tolerated." "If a taxi only had two mezuzahs, would it be tolerated?" Perecowicz asked. "Hypothetically, if the two mezuzahs weren't blocking the seat belt, it would have been accepted," Johnson replied, adding that at the time of the January 2007 ticket, she did not know what mezuzahs were. Perecowicz also asked about a picture of his wife in the taxi, which was also cited. Johnson said it was partially blocking the odometer. When asked, she also expressed the opinion that such a picture should be in a person's wallet and added that it was not necessary to the operation of a taxi. She said the same about his Canadian flag and a box of Kleenex she indicated was "free flowing" in the taxi. Perecowicz asked Johnson if she inspected any other taxis that day at the taxi stand at Côte St. Luc's Cavendish Mall, and if he was singled out. Johnson said she did not remember if she inspected others that day, but added that an inspector can single out someone if it was known they committed previous infractions. She added that this enables the inspector to do so before the driver goes out on a call. Perecowicz said he was boxed in by other cars. n Editorial Contributors: Maria I. Anelli, Akil Alleyne, Sam Bick, Mike Cohen, Alex Di Pietro, Mitch Gallo, Ian Howarth, David Lisbona, Bernard Mendelman, Daniel W.K. Rafuse, Lisa K. Savage, Linda Zlatkin Photographers: Andrew Soong, Rob Taussig, Mico Smiljanic CONTACT US via email: Letters: editor@thesuburban.com | Entertainment: entertainment@thesuburban.com | Features: anthony@thesuburban.com | Sports: sports@thesuburban.com | Community Events: calendar@thesuburban.com | Advertising material: production@thesuburban.com Publisher's liability for error: The publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The publisher's liability for other errors or omissions in connection with any advertisement is strictly limited to publication of the advertisement in any subsequent issue or the refund of any monies paid for the advertisement. Entire Contents Copyright Michael Publishing Co. Inc., Wednesday, June 16, 2010

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