Plymouth-Trinity United Provides Sanctuary
Georgina Flores, Manuel Rodriguez and their teenage son Manolo, who have lived in Sherbrooke, Quebec since 2018, were scheduled to be deported back to Mexico on November 8th. They had fled their native country because of threats from drug cartels. They believe they would face violence or even death if they return. Instead of reporting to the airport, they turned to their local United Church and asked for sanctuary.
Plymouth-Trinity United Church felt compelled to help. As they said in their official statement on November 9th, “We, the community of faith of Plymouth-Trinity are not wishing to contravene in the immigration laws of our country, but rather to tap into the ancient and canonical practice of offering sanctuary to people who are under threat or persecution.”
A little more than a week later, they have been working hard to make the family comfortable, and make the church more like a home where they can cook for themselves etc. Church leadership is reaching out to volunteers in the community to go shopping for groceries, or pick up and deliver food, or to donate grocery gift cards.
We will update as this story unfolds.
When the Monument was on Mullarkey
Earlier this month, when Pastor Beryl participated in Verdun Legion #4’s Remembrance Day, I was reminded of something I learned recently: the Cenotaph (statue in memory of the fallen in the two World Wars and the Korean War) did not always stand outside the Borough Hall at 1st Avenue.
It originally went up in 1924 in honour of the 1914-1918 war dead from Verdun, at the corner of Wellington Street and Mullarkey Avenue.
Where, you ask? It turns out the easternmost end of Lasalle Boulevard used to be called Mullarkey (see map). There’s still a triangular green space there, known as Parc Grenier. Wellington angles off to the right towards the Canadian Tire, Maxi and Point-St-Charles, and Lasalle Boulevard runs along the left side towards Atwater. That section of Lasalle starting at the park used to be called Mullarkey.
Apparently the name was changed around 1930, though I don’t know why. I also don’t know for sure who “Mullarkey” was that he got a street named after him, but it may well have been John. P. Mullarkey who was a railroad contractor in Montreal in the early years of the 20th Century.
The following information is from a website called waymarking.com
“This memorial was constructed by Coeur de Lion MacCarthy for the city of Verdun and is dedicated to the local war dead of the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War. It was unveiled on 5 October 1924 by Jane Leavitt, a Verdun mother who lost three of her five sons in the First World War. This monument originally stood in a park at the corner of Wellington Street and Mullarkey Avenue (now LaSalle Boulevard) but was moved in front of the city hall in 1959. The Verdun Victory Memorial, designed and executed by McCarthy, artist-sculptor of Montreal, depicts a Canadian solder in an exultant attitude, his shrapnel helmet in hand and his rifle raised in the spirit of Victory. At the base of the monument is a female figure, symbolic of patriotism and peace, holding in her right hand the flags of Victory and supporting with her left hand a shield bearing the arms of the City of Verdun.”
Slideshow: Click on image to move to the next one. Pictures of Remembrance Day Ceremony (Nov. 7, 2021) are from the Verdun Legion #4 Facebook page.
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.
SouthWest Service for November 14, 2021
Here is our Remembrance Day service.
SouthWest Service for November 7, 2021
Here is our service from Sunday November 7th.
SouthWest Service for October 31, 2021
Here is our All Saints service.
Government Support Comes to an End
The federal government introduced the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) Programme in March, 2020. It was designed to help struggling employers to weather the coronavirus pandemic. The programme reimbursed qualified employers a percentage of their salary expenditures based on a revenue comparison between designated months.
The deadline for the expiration of this programme was extended twice but it ended on October 23, 2021. The programme covered 84 weeks and was composed of 21 4-week periods. SouthWest qualified for a subsidy in 20 of the 21 periods. SouthWest received a total of $43 385.10. The percentage reimbursed decreased during the life of the programme. SouthWest’s reimbursement rate ranged from a high of 75% at the beginning to a low of 2.14% for the last period.
The federal government introduced two new programmes starting October 25th, but SouthWest will not be able to benefit from either of these.
SouthWest is grateful for the federal government support that it received during these months as it enabled us to pay our employees as they continued to do their work during this time. This support helped us to survive during the pandemic.
Douglas Hastie
Finance Committee, SWUC
Order of Service Nov. 14, 2021: Remembrance Day
Here is the bulletin for Remembrance Day.
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).
