Congratulations, Jenna!

Jenna Dennison is the new official bagpiper at Ogilvy’s.

When the venerable Ste-Catherine Street retailer was bought up by Holt-Renfrew in 2017, the traditional noon-time piper was dropped in favour of a more “contemporary” image. However, it seems that Holt’s may have underestimated the public’s appetite for brogues, bags and blowsticks.

Last week, under a steady rainfall - “proper Scottish weather,” according to Dennison - the tradition returned, with a modern twist. Dennison will be the first female piper Ogilvy’s has ever had, and instead of the dark green tartan associated with Ogilvy, she will be sporting a kilt that showcases the bright pink associated with Holt Renfrew.

The piper will not perform every day, but will be called upon for “special events” at the store. Hopefully this means Jenna will still have time to visit occasionally and play for us at SouthWest.

Read more: CTV news Montreal Gazette

Visit Jenna’s own website here.

Jenna and her ‘pipes were part of our Remembrance service last Sunday, and also joined us for Orange Shirt Day at the end of September.

Food Drive Last Sunday

You have done it again SouthWest United! I was moved to see the thoughtfulness that went into the donations that came in last Sunday. Such a wide variety of foods, with all food groups represented: there were canned meats and fish as well as meat substitutes like peanut butter; canned fruits and vegetables; boxed milks of various kinds; rice, oats and other grains. Thank you! And thanks once again to the Mooney-O’Reillys for pickup and delivery!
We will collect again the first Sunday in December.

Distribution of food from Dawson BGC (formerly Manna food bank) is now done on Thursdays between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Because of Covid, it is done by appointment. The number to call to make an appointment is 514 767-9967, local 223. (666 Woodland Avenue).

Breakfast Club News

On October 31st, Sheila Morrison, one of the two Breakfast Club coordinators at Verdun Elementary, came to church to report on what is happening in this third school year of the pandemic.

The model has changed quite a bit from the days when between 40 and 75 kids would sit at tables in the Mission eating food served directly from the kitchen. Last year, with the introduction of “classroom bubbles”, it became clear that the only way to feed the “breakfast club kids” was to send their (pre-packaged) meals in bins to their classrooms. Sheila and Sue (Purcell, the other coordinator) immediately recognized the awkwardness of feeding only certain children; they asked Breakfast Clubs of Canada if it would be possible to expand the program to cover all 200+ students at the school, and the answer was yes! As you will see in Sheila’s report below, that model has continued into this school year.

We were able to present Sheila with quite a few dish towels we’d collected, as she said the program was in need, including a large number of colourful dish cloths crocheted by our own Marge Cooper-White. What a wonderful example of how, as a community, we have still managed to reach out to each other even in a pandemic!

Breakfast Club Report, October 31, 2021

We prepare bins every morning for all 16 classrooms in Verdun Elementary School, for a total of about 220 children. Teachers and/or the children come to the kitchen and pick up their bin and take it to class.

We get an order from Breakfast Club every 2 weeks based on our ordering the week before. We try to make it as appealing to the children as possible, we like to make colourful bins. We make bagels and cheese for them once a week and toast the next. We also receive WOW butter (substitute for peanut butter and jam). They love their fruit. That is why, as Dennis mentioned last week, we have set up a deal with the new fruit store on the corner of Desmarchais and Verdun ave. We just had bananas delivered this past Tuesday and the kids loved them. 

When we were at the mission, we were only feeding approximately 40 children, whose families were supposed to pay, but it was a hit or a miss at times. Children who came on busses would arrive too late to eat in the Mission so we would prepare bags for them to eat in their classrooms. We had pancakes, scrambled eggs, eggos, (some were donated by Southwest). We even would have from time to time casseroles with sausage, egg etc. When there was a special occasion such as Easter or Christmas we would serve something applicable with the occasion.

It was brought to my attention a short while ago that the Breakfast Club of Canada is hopeful the Liberal government will follow through on a campaign promise and create a national food program for students faced with food insecurity. Daniel Germain, Breakfast Club of Canada founder and National School Food Program Advisory Committee Chair, says funding could be on the way, as the re-elected Trudeau government promised a five-year billion-dollar investment.

“A re-elected Liberal government will work with our provincial, territorial, municipal, Indigenous partners, and stakeholders to develop a National School Food Policy and work towards a national school nutritious meal program with a $1 billion investment over five years,” states the Liberal Party of Canada platform, which formed a minority government in September.

So we all look forward to a better year ahead for our children’s stomachs!

Respectfully submitted,

Sheila Morrison

Just a few of Marge’s dish cloths.

Bazaar at St. John Brebeuf

Bazaar & Craft Sale at St. John Brebeuf

When:    Friday Nov. 12, 3 p.m.-7 p.m. / Saturday Nov. 13, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where:  855 Bishop Power, LaSalle  H8P 1C8

New-to-you, home-made goods and crafts, Christmas table, books, plants, toys, raffle

Voting in Verdun

Last week, I gave some general information about how to get on the voting list for the municipal elections coming up on November 6 and 7.  This week I thought I’d look at how voting will play out in Verdun. Hopefully some of this information will be useful even to those who live elsewhere.

During the week of October 25, everyone who is on the electors list should receive a reminder card in the mail. This card will show all the names of candidates in your district, as well as dates and locations of advance polls and election day polls. This information is already available on the Elections Montreal website.

For instance, if you live in the Desmarchais-Crawford section of Verdun (most of mainland Verdun, from Rielle all the way to the end of Crawford Park) you will vote for five candidates: City mayor, borough mayor, a city councillor and two borough councillors. Ten* candidates are running for mayor of Montreal.

There are three candidates for Verdun Mayor: Marie-Andrée Mauger, for Projet Montreal; Jayoti Nanda for Mouvement Montreal, and Antoine Richard for Ensemble Montreal. Marie-Andrée (pictured right) has been a borough councillor here for eight years. As city councillor, we will be choosing between Eric (Balou) Chartrand for Ensemble Montreal; Sterling Downey (incumbent) for Projet Montreal; and Nathe Perrone for Mouvement Montreal.

Luc Gagnon decided not to run again for Borough councillor, and with Marier-Andrée vying for the mayor’s office, we have two new faces running for borough council with Projet Montreal: Kaïla A. Munro and Benoit Gratton. Ensemble Montreal is also running two candidates: Natacha Louis and Lili-Anne Bergeron; Mouvement Montreal is putting forth only one candidate, Jonathan Reinglas, and there is one independent candidate for borough councillor: Rosalie Belanger-Rioux.

*Regardless of where you live in Montreal, you will be presented with the following options as
City Mayor:

- Beverly Bernardo, Independent
- Denis Coderre, Ensemble Montreal
- Jean Duval, Independent
- Balarama Holness, Mouvement Montreal
- Fang Hu, Independent
- Wilder Jules, Independent
- Luc Menard, Montreal 2021
- Dimitri Mourkes, Independent
- Valerie Plante, Projet Montreal
- Gilbert Thibodeau, Action Montreal

If you are unable to get out to vote, you can submit a request to vote by mail by calling 514 872-VOTE (8683). You must apply before October 27th.

To be allowed to vote by mail you must meet one of the following criteria:

• Living in a public long-term care home or a registered private seniors’ residence

• Unable to leave your home due to health conditions

• Staying in a rehabilitation centre or hospital

• Self-isolating in accordance with public health directives

• Have symptoms of COVID-19, or a diagnosis of COVID-19

Familiar Faces

Last week we shared pictures of some people who attended church on Orange Shirt Day. We thought those who have not been able to return to church would enjoy seeing them.
This week we have photos of a couple of the people who have not yet returned to church. They remain in our hearts and prayers as, we think, we remain in theirs.

Phyllis Luther was finally able to reunite with her daughters, Cathy (left) from Vancouver, and Janice, from Mississauga, in September, once all were fully vaccinated.

May Cook was pleased to have an in-person visit with her friend Lorna recently.

VES: An Enduring Partnership

Crayons! Pencils! Notebooks! Glue sticks! And so much more!
What a pleasure it was to meet the new principal of Verdun Elementary School, Christine Dane, and to deliver all the school supplies the congregation had donated in September. Many thanks to Sheila Morrison, Breakfast Club Coordinator, who helped make the connection. And to Mary Lamey for helping with pickup and delivery. Natalie Lalonde would have been there too but she was with her class.
We hold all Students, teachers and staff in our hearts as they navigate a third school year disrupted by the pandemic.

Amy

Left to right: Amy, Principal Dane, Sheila (photo: Mary Lamey)

Verdun Elementary School was established in 2003 through the merger of St. Thomas Moore and Woodland schools.

There has been an elementary school in this building since its construction and dedication in 1922 as Woodland School.

School Supplies for Verdun Elementary

The generosity of this congregation never ceases to amaze me.
We put out the call at the beginning of the month for donations of school supplies for the children of VES. I returned to my desk this week to find the abundance pictured here. We’ll keep up the collection this Sunday and next for anyone that still wishes to contribute. If you can’t make it on Sunday, you may call the office to make an appointment to drop by.
Some items they would really appreciate are: markers, pencils, glue sticks and duo-tangs. If you prefer, you may also make a cash donation, which will be put towards vouchers for school lunches.

Thank you all!

Orange Shirt Day September 30

United Church of Canada encourages us to show our colours

On September 30, people all across Canada will wear orange shirts to remember and honour Indigenous children who were taken from their communities and families to residential schools.

The summer of 2021 was a summer of orange shirts as Indigenous communities across the country shared the truth they have always known: that many of the children who never returned from residential schools remain on the grounds of those institutions in unmarked burial sites. These communities are now seeking to honour the missing children.

This Orange Shirt Day is also the first observance of a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. For settler Christians in particular, this is a time when we can reflect on our role in colonialism and the residential school system, and our ongoing responsibility to make reparations.

Indigenous Ministries and Justice at The United Church of Canada encourages everyone to participate in Orange Shirt Day!

Why orange? Because of Phyllis Jack Webstad from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation, who went to St. Joseph Mission Residential School. On her first day of school, Phyllis wore an orange shirt that her grandmother had given her. It wasimmediately taken away, and that marked the beginning of Phyllis’s long separation from her family and community, a separation caused by actions of the church and federal government.
Orange Shirt Day is a time for us all to remember those events, their ongoing impact, and just as importantly the continuing strength and resilience of Indigenous peoples.

 What We Can Do

On Sunday, September 26th (the closest Sunday to Sept. 30), on the UCC’s suggestion, we are asking everyone – whether they attend church in person or online - to wear orange. If you can, ask someone to take your picture in your orange shirt and send it along to us. (If they take the picture with a smartphone, it can be emailed to us: southwestunited@gmail.com). If we receive enough photos, we will create a photo collage to be shared on social media and in a future newsletter.

A note about orange shirts: There are many T-shirts being advertised and sold bearing logos and messages such as “every child matters”. If you choose to purchase one of these shirts, make sure that the proceeds are going to an Indigenous artist or to an Indigenous organization. But Orange Shirt Day doesn’t have to be about having the “right” shirt. I would suggest just wearing something you already have (or picking up something at a second-hand store as I did) and then making a contribution to an Indigenous organization. Here are a few local ones that are doing important work:

Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal: The NWSM is the only women’s shelter in Montreal that provides services exclusively to Aboriginal women and their children. Women are offered an up to three month stay in one of 13 private rooms, many of which are capable of accommodating more than one person so that women may stay with their children. NWSM also supports Resilience Montreal, the new day shelter and wellness centre right across the street from Cabot Square. Open to everyone, providing food and shelter as well as mental health and medical support. http://www.nwsm.info/
The address of the shelter is confidential, but donations may be mailed to:
P.O. Box 183, Station St. Jacques
Montreal, Quebec
H3C 2S1

Step by Step Child and Family Center is an inclusive daycare that challenges the existing systems to ensure their children receive the services they needed within their own community.  https://www.stepxstep.ca/
P.O. Box 771, Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, Quebec J0L 1B0

Karihwanoron (Precious Things) is a primary school that teaches Mohawk language and culture. https://www.karihwanoron.com/
P.O Box 1439 Kahnawake, QC.  J0L 1B0

A Prayer for Orange Shirt Day*

Today we wear orange
to remember and honour all the Indigenous children who went to residential schools.

Today we wear orange and we pray
for the residential school and intergenerational survivors who are still struggling.

Today we wear orange and we are thankful
for those who speak the truth, and who work to shine a light on injustice.

Today we wear orange in the name of compassion and the spirit of truth and reconciliation.

Help us, God, to remember and act on this, this and every day.

Amen.

*This prayer was inspired by Honarine Scott’s Orange Shirt Day blog.

Baptism: Labrecque-Lapensee

Last Saturday, Pastor Beryl baptized baby Michael, son of Karyn Labrecque and Jean-Luc Lapensee. Michael’s big sister Madison was baptized by Rev. David in January, 2018 at the Mission. Karyn shared this picture with us. Congratulations to all.