Archives January - June 2013

Drive For The Cure Raises Record Amount
On Thursday, June 27th, a sell out contingency of over 150 golfers took to the fairways and greens of the Fontainebleau Golf Course to raise funds for the Royal Victoria Hospital Foundation. As a bonus, the weather cooperated despite the dreary forecast. This was the 13th year of the tournament which started out with 12 of Danny's friends getting together to raise a bit of money to help cure cancer. This year, the fundraiser hit a new record high and beat last year's amount by a lot. To see pictures of the day and to find out how much was raised, please click here. To just find out how much was raised, click here and press play. This tournament is a first class operation at a world class venue. Danny puts his heart and soul into it as do many volunteers. Thanks to all who attended and supported the event.

Ex Two Mountaineers, King Brothers Make Noise In Hollywood
A couple of years ago I wrote a little blurb about Darren and Gregory King and their successful sound editing company that was making (sound) waves in Hollywood. Their success is continuing and they have rebranded their company which is now called King Soundworks. They have done custom sound editing and design for many Hollywood blockbusters and television shows.  One of the latest collaborations was the recent movie 42 which is the story of Jackie Robinson and his breaking the race barrier in Major League Baseball. They are currently working a few more movies. They have a new website that lists all their past credits and future projects. Take a look at and listen to their new website by clicking kingsoundworks.com and don't be surprised if you bump into boys this summer if they come back to visit their old home town.

DMSA To Play 94.7 Hits FM in Softball Fundraiser on Wednesday July 10th
The Deux-Montagnes Softball Association will be holding its annual charity softball game vs. 94.7 Hits FM on Wednesday evening July 10 at 7pm at Olympia park. We will be raising funds to support Danika Brunies and the Brunies’ family. There will be a barbecue running all evening as well as a raffle at the end of the game with great prizes. Please click here for all the info. Spread the word and come support a great cause.

Boston Boys Come Up for Golf Visit
Nine of the Team USA's Wyder Cup contingent came up to Canada for the weekend to play in a Friday Skins game and then participated in the Holy Family Golf Tournament on Saturday. The Friday golf was played at Victorien and joining the 9 Americans were 30 Canadians under beautiful skies. Each foursome had a Team USA member in it. On Saturday, the weather was not as good for the Holy Family tournament played at Oka. Despite the rain which eventually stopped, about half of the 80 players finished their 18 hole round. Following the tournament, another 40 or so joined in for the steak supper and prize presentation. We showed the hockey game of the big screen which did not end for our visitors and Chicago went ahead in the Stanley Cup Finals 3 games to 2. Here are some pictures from Friday's outing. There were not many pictures taken in the rain at Oka on Saturday.

Carla and Rick Take to the Road for a Sixth Time to Help Cure Juvenile Diabetes
On Friday July 5th, Carla Hoger and her father Rick along with 4 other cyclists will be riding their bikes from Ottawa to Two-Mountains. Andrew Green, Alex Green, Danny Gagnon and Mike Parr have been training to get ready for this ride. There are still 19 days left of training, so you can join them if you feel up to it. If not, you can send a donation to help the cause. Click here for a letter from Carla describing the history of this event, why the cause is so close to her heart and how to send in your donation.

Public Consultation Meeting - Tuesday June 18 - 7:00pm
The city of Two-Mountains will be presenting Special Planning Programs at the Veteran's Hall at 141 Grand Moulin. There is sure to be a heated discussion based on a council meeting held a few weeks ago. One of the points of contention is the land that used to be home to the Red Castle Hotel. The opposition comes from a small but loud group of people living in proximity to the land. They oppose the building of a waterfront condo project. They are pushing for single family dwellings to be built on the land. This land has been vacant for years which means the city has not benefited from the low taxes imposed on piece of land. The city proposal would mean a project that would generate approximately $100,000 in extra taxes each year. In a city that has no more room for expansion, this would certainly help but many people in Two Mountains suffer from the NIMBY (not in my back yard) syndrome. In this case, you wonder whether a 3 story condo or a few 2 1/2 story mansions will make a difference in the view of the waterfront. There have been many flyers going around town trying to rally the troops to stop everything until the new council is elected in November. Whatever side you are on, Tuesday's consultation is sure to be action packed. While on the subject of November elections....

Jamshid Ghavami Running For Mayor in November
There are now 4 official candidates that will be running for mayor in the next Deux-Montagnes election. Running as an independent, Jamshid Ghavami, will be on the November 3rd ballot.
Here is a message from Mr. Ghavami:
It’s with great pleasure that I announce my candidacy for the office of the Mayor of Deux-Montagnes as an independent candidate.
My wife, Hoda and I moved to Deux-Montagnes in 1989. I had just graduated from McGill University with an engineering degree, my wife with a business degree from Concordia University and we were ready to embark on our new life together. Little did we know that in very short period of time we would call Deux-Montagnes home. Click here for more.

Canadian Tire Money Blitz for Holy Family Parish
Throughout the month of June, Holy Family parish is doing a CT Blitz. Check under your seats, in the trunk ,in your drawers, in the garage. It's everywhere and you probably will never bring to Canadian Tire to use it. You can bring the money to Mass, put it in the mail slot at the church office or it can be mailed to 1001 Chemin Oka, Deux-Montagnes, QC, J7R 1L9. Click here to see the poster. I will report on how much money was collected in July.

Defi Deux-Montagnes Pictures click here (drop me an e-mail if you would like to download any of these pictures)

Heritage Social Club Mixed Softball Tournament
On Staturday June 15th, the HSC will be holding its 3rd annual Softball tournament. Please come support the cause (us) The Teams are: The Expos-(Champs in 2011 and 2012)- Rocky Holt Committee - Orange Crush - Ricki D - Balls Deep and our own Heritage Hurricanes. Games start at 8:30 am at Olympia Park (Guy & 9th Ave-Two Mountains) Refreshments available (hamburgers, hot dogs, beer, soft drinks, water.) To be followed by a 6:00pm chicken supper ($20) per player including supper and ($12) per person for supper only, includes door prizes, & music + ½&½ draw to be held.
There might be room for a couple of players. Contact Mike (450 491 0382) or the Heritage (450 473 5429) for more info.

Canada AM Visits Montreal
As you saw on my entry page, we were on the set of Canada AM this morning as they were broadcasting live from Place des Arts. 'The girls' had me wake up at 4am to head into town by 4:30 to make sure we arrived early enough. It ends up we were there before some of the crew. We got front row seats as I brought chairs just in case we had to stand for 3 1/2 hours. 98 degrees did a sound check at 5:30am so it was good that we were there early (I guess). We didn't win the car either but we froze for almost 4 hours as 98º it wasn't. I have some pictures here, if you are interested.

The Defi Needs Volunteers
This Sunday (June 9th) is the running of the Defi Deux-Montagnes. Many people and groups had shown interest in giving a helping hand. The 'challenge' now is that there seems to be a lower amount of people that are confirming their presence. The committee is very busy with preparations and are realizing that they might be short a few people.
The following is a plea from Glenda of the organizing Committee If you can spare some time this Sunday, as early as 7am until noon, or even only a portion of that time (example, from 9am-11am, this would be fine too. I will be grateful for whatever you can spare. We need volunteers to simply cheer on our runners, and walkers at designated street corners so that these participants will know which direction to go.
If you would like to volunteer, please send me an email at pgoyetche@yahoo.ca and I will reply with the phone contact info for Glenda. Your help would be greatly appreciated. You can also find contact info on the Ventus website by clicking here.

Quebec Government Gives the Town a $2,667,600 Grant for Aging Water System
In a press conference on Monday June 3rd, Quebec MNA, Daniel Goyer announced that the provincial government will give the city up to 2.7 million dollars to 4 projects to 'rehabilitate' the water system. This amount represents a 66% contribution while the city has to finance the other third of the cost. The four projects are slated for this summer and should be finished by September. This is part of a government initiative called PIQM (Programme D'infrastructure Quebec-Municipalité).
The work involves relining the cast iron or cement drinking water conduits with a synthetic sleeve. The work can be accomplished by digging an opening every 100 to 150 meters rather than dig up the entire street to lay new pipes. The cost is slightly lower than digging entire streets but much less intrusive. The same type of work was done last year in other areas. Click here to see where it was done. This summer, 5.2 kilometres of pipes will be revived. The longest stretch will be Henri-Dunant and most of 12th avenue. 5.2 kms represents 7% of the entire system, however some of the pipes in the newer areas such as the Coteau are still young compared to the age of the ones in the older sectors. Click here for a description of the work and a map of all the streets affected.

Still Some Spots Open for the 6th Annual Bowling Party for Mon Chez-Moi
On Saturday June 15th, 2013, Mon Chez-Moi will be having their 6th annual bowling party fund raiser. Mon Chez-Moi is a project house for intellectually challenged young adults. If you would like to participate you can organize a team of 6 players, collect $12.00 from each player, and contact Ethel Stephen at 450-473-2211 by June 10th 2013 with the money and the names of your players. This is to allow the reserve the proper number of lanes. Bowling's a ball and you are sure to have a good time supporting a worthy cause.
The time is from 18:00 to 21:00 at the Salon de Quilles du Parc at 66 Industrial Blvd, St-Eustache.

Red Hat Society Tea Party (click the Hat for pictures)
On Saturday June 1st, an Afternoon Tea was held at the Heritage Social Club and just over 80 Red Hatters were in attendance. The wonderful and talented ladies of Darlene Gargul’s “Senior Project” (and soon-to-be catering company, maybe, maybe????) prepared and served the food, to perfection. Those tasty bite-sized sandwiches, light as air scones and mini desserts and cookies were beautifully presented and appreciatively consumed. Gallons of tea was sipped from dainty tea cups and saucers provided by Wendy Lunny and the tea was poured from silver tea services and china tea sets, one of each being provided at each table. There were many door prizes won. Everyone enjoyed every sip, every aroma and every bite!
There was plenty of chatter and laughter and picture-taking. Several ladies came in Victorian costumes which certainly added to the fun. We had an excellent and patient photographer of whom we were all very, very appreciative. It turned out to be a fabulous afternoon, all ‘round'.
Thank you to everyone who attended. Without the fun guests, where would we be? A great big thank you to all the ladies who lent their tea sets, tiered plates, sugar tongs, tiny tea spoons and tiny butter knives. It made everything so special. Also thanks to the ladies (and a couple of gentlemen) who helped decorate. Thank you to the ladies who donated and wrapped the extra gifts. A great big thank you goes out to the ladies who worked for days preparing the dainties and beverages, and those Teapot Cake Centerpieces, for this Victorian Afternoon Tea. After all the preparation and the washing up afterward, put your feet up ladies and take a well-deserved rest. You girls were awesome!!!!!  Regard, Pam Pierre
The Red Hat Society was formed in 1998 when 5 ladies “of a certain age” went out for lunch wearing purple dresses, with hats that didn’t match. Fifteen years later, there are 35 thousand chapters, worldwide…..yes, 35,000 chapters, all over the world. We have two Chapters in our fair city. The first chapter, founded by Queen Diane Mitchell is called the Two Mountains Dilly Girls (named after her mother, Dillys). The second chapter is called The Two Mountains Dazzling Rubies. The chapter was founded by Queen Pam Pierre in July of 2007 and so named because Ruby is the July birthstone. There are 20-odd chapters in the Montreal area and the Queens and Vice-Queens (or Queens of Vice) get together once monthly to plan events at which all members are invited. To learn more about the Red Hats, click here.

The Summer Edition of Express Had Been Released
Click the cover to open it. Note there is no leisure program for the summer months. Also click here for Relay For Life pictures from Friday May 31st.

Memory Lane
By the comments I have been receiving about the Luna, I can see you enjoy a little look into the past. A few months ago, Greg Cooke lent me a copy of a book published in 1958 by the Victory called the Two Mountains Album. It contained pictures of the entire county of Two Mountains but there were 20 of them of Two Mountains itself. My mission was to try and capture the same picture 55 years later. I was waiting for the snow to go away but I finally put everything together. I made a 3 minute slideshow accompanied by some #1 songs from 1958. To see and hear please click here. If you don't have Flash player, use this link instead.

The Luna - A Flash From The Past - 51 years ago
My long time friend and school mate Jo-Ann Hall while doing some online research stumbled upon some archived editions of the newspaper L'Action Deux-Montagnes. It was a French newspaper out of St-Eustache that covered the entire region from Laval West up to St-Canut and even a place called Christ-Roi (which I don't remember). In July 1962, the Luna lounge opened in a building that used to be the Moon Theatre which closed down for a reason I don't know. Perhaps it was competition from the Normandie Theatre up the street that brought its demise but a man named Jean-Louis Delage decided the premises would be converted to a lounge with a full restaurant. According to the advertisement you could 'enjoy a meal listening to our famous Gulbransen Rialto Organ'. In the L'Action newspaper in 1962, Mr. Delage took out full page ads in both English and French to promote the opening. Of course, we all know that eventually the Luna was not known for its food or organ music. It was the libation center of east Two-Mountains. The building now houses Constantin Appliance Repair and Sales but not before become the Ranch L and the 607, neither of them renowned for their food service. Click here to see these ads as published in 1962.
Thanks Jo-Ann for your serendipitous research. If you would like to see the entire 111 page archive of the newspaper, click here.

Relay for Life Coming This Friday
On Friday May 31st, participants will be walking from 7pm to 7am at LTMHS to raise money to fight cancer. One of the many teams once again taking part in this year's event is the Dreaming Lamplighters. There are currently a few dollars short of their $3000 goal but I am sure you can help them reach beyond it. To sponsor the team simply use this link. To find out more about the event you can click this link however the information at this link says 7am to 7pm but the actual relay starts at 7pm and goes on all night. Come out on Friday and encourage them or come light a lamp for someone you have lost to cancer or better still to a survivor.

Horticulture Day in Deux-Montagnes: A Success Despite the Weather
Press Release: Deux-Montagnes, May 27, 2011 – The mayor of Deux-Montagnes, Marc Lauzon, and City Councillors were very pleased with the turnout for the 8th annual Horticulture Day, which took place last Saturday, May 25, onsite at the Public Works Department and which attracted about 2,000 families (4,500 visitors in all) despite the gloomy weather.
"The goal of this event was to give citizens a chance to enhance their lawns and gardens and to interact with and learn from other horticultural enthusiasts," said Marc Lauzon, Mayor of Deux-Montagnes. "This year, we gave out 35 cubic yards of compost, 3,174 crates of annuals and 1,946 perennials to the citizens of Deux-Montagnes." Click here for entire press release.

Surprised and Overwhelmed
As some of you know, last night was a very special evening for me. A few people got together and filled the Heritage Social to thank me for my involvement with our community. Much of that involvement centers around this website that will be celebrating it's 10 anniversary soon. I was, to say the least, shocked that so many people were gathered in one room to 'honour' me in this surprise affair. I was truly surprised and still amazed that no one had let the cat out of the bag in the last few weeks. It was a truly amazing night that I will never forget and that hopefully will live on for a long time and I will tell you how in a little bit. The event was attended by many of my friends but I was also moved by how many different organizations took part in this event. There was representation from the the City of Two Mountains with Mayor Marc Lauzon and councillor Mario Saint-Charles. And other than the Heritage Social Club itself, the following groups were involved in the evening; Legion Br. 185, the Lions Club, 4 Korners, Mon Chez-Moi, Creative Seniors' Program, Meals on Wheels, Canada Day Committee, Shamrock's Soccer, Community Connections, Laval Teachers Hockey, the Red Hat Society, Danny Klimas Golf and Hockey Tournaments, Heritage Softball and probably more. One of the highlights of the evening was the song performed by the Forever Young Theatre Company. I would really like to thank everyone involved and will eventually get around to thanking everyone personally.
Now for the 'piece de resistance'; someone had a fantastic idea (and you know who you are) that instead of giving me a gift or a plaque for this occasion, an 'arts' scholarship fund for LTMHS would be started in my name for students who excels in visual arts or something like that. There was a donation box setup but I am not sure how much was collected (see update). There were also plans to keep this going for years to come but the first recipient would probably be at this year's graduation exercises. I really thought the idea was outstanding and if you want to get involved, especially my readers who are LTM Alumni, just drop me an e-mail and we can arrange to add to the fund. Update: The money collected that night from personal and group donations was $730. I will keep you posted on the progress of this fund and its recipients.
By the way, the excuse to get me to the Heritage Club for the surprise in the first place was I was asked to take pictures at an event going on there. I brought all my camera equipment, but obviously didn't get to use it. There are a few pictures available here. If you have some pictures you want to share, simply use this link and follow the instructions.

Legion Branch 185 Rib Steak Dinner
On Saturday June 1st, the Legion will be hosting a rib Steak dinner. The price is $20 which includes a beverage. Please reserve in advance by dropping in or calling 450 472 6530. This event is open to all (you don't have to be a Legion member). The action gets going at 4:30pm if you are hungry.

2MOPAUL is Going to the Birds
After posting my intro screen, I just realized that my last 4 splash screens feature birds. I promise the next one will be different, unless a new type of bird appears. I am not what you call an avid bird watcher but I can identify some birds. It's easy, Red is a cardinal, Orange is a robin unless you are lucky enough to see a Baltimore Oriole, Blue is a Blue Jay, White is usually a gull picking out French-fries from the Macdonald's garbage can. The picture you saw on the way in was a Cardinal which usually stop by our feeder very early in the morning and just before dark. The picture was taken in the early evening while the crab apple tree was in full bloom, a sure sign of spring. The blossoms have already started to fall but this would be a great  weekend to ride through the orchards in St Joseph. For those of you who are not tired of birds, I have posted a small album of birds from around here, mostly at our feeders. That albums is here.

Defi Deux-Montagnes Is Back!
After a year off, the Two Mountains Challenge running event is back on Sunday June 9th, 2013. The 1, 2, 5 and 10 kilometre courses will all be setup for the challenge. The action starts at 8:45am, rain or shine.
This is the sixth time this event has been put on and this year's honorary president Valerie Sanderson (pictured on  left), a local soccer player who has made her mark on the international scene. She played for Canada at the U17 world Cup in Azerbaijan. In February of this year, she received a scholarship to play for the Tigers of Memphis University in Tennessee.
The Challenge is open to all. Children under 12 and seniors over 65 have the benefit of not paying the entrance fee. Entrance forms are available at City Hall, the library, Café Lola, Restaurant le Farandole, at all elementary schools and at the Ventus website here. Proceeds from the entrance fees go towards promoting physical activities at local schools. Since 2007, the Defi Deux-Montagnes has directed over $40,000 to help finance extra curricular activities at the area schools. There are also lots of sponsors including a major sponsor in Bain Magique. Click here for pictures of the press conference to some.

Two Mountain Shamrocks Celebrate their 50th Anniversary and You Are Invited
The 2MO Shamrocks soccer are turning 50 this year and they are putting on an event. It all happens all day Saturday May 25th at Central park. It's a day of home games for the Shamrocks. There will be free hot-dogs and drinks and a large cake to mark the occasion. A DJ will be pumping out the Music and there will be blow up games for the kids. Click here to see the poster or here to visit the Shamrocks' website.

There are a lot of things happening on May 25th including Two Mountains Horticultural Day so plan your day carefully.

Réjane Grignon McCarthy 1921 - 2013
From Montreal Gazette: Passed away peacefully on April 27, 2013, at the CHSLD Des Pommetiers in Beloeil, beloved wife of the late Michael McCarthy. She will be sadly missed by her children Carole, Michael, Danielle and Daniel and their spouses, her grandchildren Melanie, Davin, Dane and Teal, her sister Pauline and many other relatives and friends. A celebration of her life will be held at St-Agapit Church in Deux-Montagnes on May 25th at 11 a.m., with visitation one hour prior to service time. The family would like to express their thanks to the staff of the Centre. As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations to The Arthritis Society would be appreciated. To view he online obituary and guestbook, please click here.

SPAM, SPAM, SPAM
A few months ago I posted an article on what ends up in your SPAM folder as known as the junk folder in some email systems. Firstly, no one seems to know why it's called SPAM instead of just junk mail. There are theories this it roots from the old Monty Python skit about SPAM, the infamous canned ham. Whatever it's called, it's annoying and in 2011 there was an estimated 7 trillion spams delivered. That means 1000 spams per living person on earth, even the ones without internet. This means you should be getting 3 emails in you junk folder every day. If you don't, it's because your have a new e-mail and the spammers don't know about it yet. I get way more than that but part of it could me my own fault because I willingly divulge my e-mail address to many. Nevertheless, I don't really mind them because 99% of them get filtered into my spam folder. For some reason, I haven't received any private part enlarging emails for a few years. Maybe that market has shrivelled up. I do get a lot of online casino and many drug related e-mails. Also there has been a large rise in 'secret' stock tips that tell you what's hot in the stock market. Not hard to figure out who is sending these out. I really don't like the ones that pose as banking institutions or Paypal warnings that your account will be suspended.
I still do get a kick out of the emails that promise a wheelbarrow (wheel barrow not barrel) full of money that I am been 'entrusted' to take care of on behalf of some rich widow or a Nigerian prince trying to escape the country. These are proliferating even in these days of wise internet savvy people. Someone must be answering these calls as they would have stopped by now. For you people who are not lucky enough to have your spam folders inundated with these, I have put together a few I have received in the past few months. If you are tempted to answer anyone of these, please send me all your personal information and PIN numbers and I will take care of it. Here they are.

Lions Club Garage Sale - Saturday May 11
The semi-annual garage sale will be held on May 11-2013, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. We will also be serving our famous Hot Dogs, and French fries and there will be a home made bake sale with all the goodies. Pat Glover's famous Cabbage rolls will be on sale, so come early because they go fast!!!!
If you would like to rent a table ,please call Lion Owen Ryder at 450-974-4167.The cost will be $ 10.00. Any donations will be gratefully accepted when you call Lion Art Glover at 450-473-2503, who will pick them up at your home.

Loucho - Last of Three Shows This Sunday At the Heritage
3 Blind Mice Productions is putting on the final of its three show series on Sunday April 28 at 11:30. Loucho, The clown is back in action in his newest sci-fi adventure. This time the mischievous villain Dunderwaits has seized control of the multicoloured machine with a deadly matrix that could destroy the entire world. In this hypermodern tech-crazed world destitute of colour, Loucho must swallow his fears, and embark on an epic journey to rescue his friends and restore color to our dark times. A heart-warming story about the importance of diversity with circus, clowns and live music.
A light lunch after the 11:30am show will be available for purchase as well as a meet and greet with the cast. Ticket prices: $8 Adults, $6 for Children - Advance ticket purchase preferable at the bar or from a club member. May also be available at the door. Feel free to bring a cushion for the kids to sit on during the show. Popcorn on sale before the show, soup and hot dogs on sale after the show. Call 450-473-5429 for more information. Click here for imore info on LOUCHO

City Makes Milestone Announcement on Earth Day
At a press conference on Earth Day, Monday April 22, Mayor Marc Lauzon  and the corporation of woods and nature parks of Two-Mountains announced that the Boisé Roger Lemoine (better known to many of my readers as 'The Log') has been designated as a Nature Reserve. Although this designation officially occurred on January 3rd of this year, it was made public today as part of Earth Day.

The 8.14 hectare area is the first Nature Reserve in Quebec owned by a municipality. The designation under the law of the conservation of the natural heritage (direct translation from French) is valid for 100 years which is a major achievement. The 81.394 square meter area situated on both side of Boulevard Deux-Montagnes consists of a wooded area that included a Cattail Marsh. The marsh plays an important ecological role as it eliminates some impurities in the ground water. The woods also contain a large variety of flora and fauna. Some maple trees have been estimated at over 200 years old which is rare in a suburban woodland. Click here for pictures of the press conference and a larger view of the map above.

On Saturday May 4th at 9am, there will be a cleanup day that could certainly use a lot of volunteers. All the equipment will be provided, so you simply have to show up that morning near the train station.

The City of Two Mountains Proudly Supports National Organ and Tissue Donor Week
Press Release - Deux-Montagnes, April 22, 2013 – From April 21 to 28, 2013, the City of Deux-Montagnes is pleased to be a part of National Organ and Tissue Donor Week and to raise the flag bearing the image of the green ribbon, the symbol of organ and tissue donation throughout North America and in most European countries, above City Hall.

In so doing, Deux-Montagnes is joining the ranks Transplant Québec and the awareness campaign to which more than 70 municipalities and cities across Québec contribute.

"In light of National Organ and Tissue Donor Week, I invite Deux-Montagnes and all its citizens to consider organ donation and to discuss it with their loved ones, especially as a single person can, by agreeing to organ and tissue donation upon their passing, save up to eight lives and improve the quality of life of fifteen other people," stated the Mayor, Mr. Marc Lauzon. Click here for entire press release and important links.

Click here for pictures of the Heritage Club Casino Night

Lions Club Brunch to Benefit La Chacuniere - Sunday April 21st ,2013
The annual brunch will take place at the Veterans Hall, 141 Grand Moulin. The doors will open at 9:00 am and a delicious brunch will be served until 2:00 pm. The brunch will consist of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, home fries and toast, Coffee and Tea will be served. During the day, there will be drawings and a 50/50 raffle. The cost for adults is $8.00, Children 5-12 years old $4.00 and children under 5 years old eat free. Please come and support this fundraiser. Click here for pictures of the brunch.

Donald John Scuris Brown
From the Calgary Herald: Don passed away peacefully at the Foothills General Hospital in Calgary, Alberta on April 11, 2013 at the age of 57 years. Don is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Linda (LeClair), daughter Sabrina (Chris) Mackay, son Neil, and special daughters Stephanie (Paul) Lynn and Andrea Black who came to live with him and Linda in 1996. Missing Grampa dearly will be Kaitlyn, Jacob, Connor, Gabriel, Shaine, and Darius. He will also be missed by his mother-in-law Carol and sister-in-law Michelle (Kevin). Don will also be sadly missed by his brothers, Steve (Vivian) and Jim (Rose), and nephew and nieces, Darrell (Sara), Kirsten (Byron), and Heather (Ryan) as well as great-nieces and nephews. Don was predeceased by his sister Judy (1996), his father Jack (1997), and mother Violet (2004). Don was born in Montreal in 1956 and grew up in Two Mountains, Quebec. He moved to Calgary in 1974. Don enjoyed playing pool with his friends and family. Undoubtedly, Don's real passion in life was his family; spending weekends and summer vacations in the family camper watching his kids have fun and grow into the wonderful young adults that they are today. A Celebration of Life will be held at SOUTH CALGARY FUNERAL CENTRE, 12700 Macleod Trail South (at Lake Fraser Gate), Calgary on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made directly to Canadian Diabetes Association, or The Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta. To view his online obituary and view or sign his guest book, please click here.

The Glass Slipper Still Fits; A Great Success!
The sold out dinner theatre show at the Heritage Social Club was enjoyed by everyone. The Forever Young Theatre Company was in fine form as they brought the senior Cinderella story to Two Mountains. A video will be available at a future date. If you would like to see some pictures of the event, please click here.

St-Jude March-A-Ton Raises $1000 For St-Eustache Hospital Foundation
Once again, students of St-Jude Elementary school took to the streets on Friday April 5th to raise money for the 'Teledon' that will be happening at the Olympia Arena on Friday April 26. The almost 200 participants raised a total of $1000 in their march from St-Jude to the Veterans' Hall (the long way around). The march also promotes fitness as there was a Zumba class and a fire truck pull in the parking lot.
The teledon will air live on Paril and will be televised on Videotron's Vox channel 9. If you don't subscribe to Videotron, you might want to pop by the Olympia and check the celebrities participating. Quebec stars Eric Salvail, Michel Louvain, Michèle Richard, Marjo, France D'Amour and many more will be on hand to help raise money so that the St-Eustache Hospital can equip themselves with better high tech medical equipment. Hopefully not, but some day you may be benefit from these new tools that will be able locally instead of being transferred to better equipped medical centers.

Heritage Casino Night - Saturday April 20
The Heritage Social Club is hosting a Casino Night on Saturday April 20th. The doors will open at 7:30 pm and games will start at 8:00 sharp. There will be Black Jack tables, Roulette, War and a few other wheels. The cost of the evening is $20 which includes your first supply of chips. Guests who do not want to play will pay only $5. There will also be one table of Texas Hold'em with a maximum of 10 people.
This is a fundraiser for the club as the hall is still in needs of some repairs. Your support would be greatly appreciated.
For further information you can contact Christine at 514-827-1361 or Norma at 450-472-7023
To see some pictures of a previous Casino Night, please click here.
 

Two Mountains Soon to Have State of the Art Emergency Command Centre
A 2mopaul scoop - The Deux-Montagnes/Ste Marthe-sur-le-lac fire department has received delivery of a new state of the art truck that will function as a command centre for emergencies in the area. The truck, which be be unveiled soon, will contain the latest in communication and technology. The electronic equipment is currently being installed. Fire chief Ron Hunt is very proud of the new acquisition and looking forward to putting it into action.
As part of the 'protection civile', most of the systems within the truck including at least 6 video cameras were paid by provincial and federal grants.
Although it will be equipped with latest technology, what was equally as impressive (for me) was that a manual non-technical backup system was condidered into the design. We all know that no matter how sophisticated electronic systems are, the time they could fail is when you rely on them and don't have a plan 'B' when everything hits the fan. I have posted some pictures here of the outside of this impressive vehicle and will try to get an inside look at the installations in the next few days and will post them too.

Enough is Enough. OQLF Bans The Word 'Anglais' From French Food Names 
The Office Quebecoise de la Langue Francaise has finally gone way over the line in their control of language. Starting today, food stores in Quebec will no longer be allowed to label the following foods with their original names in the French language. English muffins (muffin anglais) will now have to be called 'Petits pain de campagne'. English Cucumbers (concombre anglais) will now be known as 'Concombre allongé' and finally Custard (crème anglaise) will be labelled 'crème renversée'. In my opinion, the language police has already gone too far in eliminating English words or terminology. Trying to eliminate the word anglais from the French language has crossed the line. What's next? There are even more ridiculous proposals that are slated to come into effect, coincidentally, on June 24th this year. Click here to learn more about those. I apologize for leaving this here longer than it is supposed to be.

The Green Phantom Takes on the World Of Comedy

After dominating the independent wrestling scene for the past 15 years The Green Phantom, rumoured to be local resident Joseph Fitzmorris, has been asked to appear as a stand-up comedian at the Comedy Works. 'How is that gonna work' you ask? Come find out on Tuesday April 16th at the Comedy Works at 1238 Bishop Street in Montréal. The cover charge is a mere $5 for an evening of laughs.

He will join an all-star veteran, sometimes world famous, always funny cast of comedians.
They are: Benoit Lefebvre, Walter Lyng, Jeff Danson, Abdul Butt and your host Mike Paterson!

Come support your Hardcore Hometown Hero. He is listed as being from the ancient GREEN hills of Two-Mountains. And feel free to like and follow him on Facebook by clicking here.

To see the Comedy Works poster, click here.

April/May Express and Summer Leisure Program Now Available

The latest edition of the Express and the summer leisure programs are now available of the city website. Simply click the pictures of the Express or the Leisure program to go directly to those publications.

Daphne Roseby (Noftall) 1941 - 2013
Daphne Maud, 71, of Hammonds Plains, NS, passed away peacefully at home on Monday , March 11th, 2013. Born on July 23, 1941 in Windsor, NFLD, she was the daughter of the late Roy and Lillian Noftall (Faulkner). Daphne is survived by her husband of almost 50 years, Ian, and their daughters Dawn (Andrew) and Leslie; three grandchildren; Kenneth, Ian and Daphne; siblings Linda (Bob), Alvin (Jill), Ruth, Selma, Jocelyn, (Gord), Lorne, Doug and Glenn. She will also be missed and remembered by many nieces , nephews, and many relatives and friends. Cremation has taken place. Daphne will be brought back to be scattered in many special places across her beloved home of Newfoundland. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting this link.

Click here for Pictures Of Diane and Gordie's Annual Cabane A Sucre

Friday March 22nd is World Water Day
This year's theme for United Nations Water Day is water cooperation. WWD has been in existence since 1993. It is one of the key events in the United Nations calendar. To read more about this event, visit the web site here. A few years ago, I put together a slide show of a collection of our best pictures all featuring water. I have added a few pictures this year as well as another track of relaxing music. This link will bring you to the slideshow that lasts about 10 minutes. You can speed it up by changing the slide interval which is now set at 5 seconds. If you have an Apple product (Ipad or Mac), you may have to use this link and do a Start slideshow from there.

Steven Kerr Passes Away On February 14th
Published in Cornwall's 'The Standard Freeholder' - Peacefully at Cornwall Hospice, on February 14, 2013. Steven Kerr, of Long Sault; aged 62 years. Beloved father of Stephanie Scott (Jeff) and Kristopher Jaggi (Nadja). Dear brother of David Kerr, Linda Kerr, Deborah Terry (Brian), Emily Kerr (Randy Boyd) and Tara Kerr. Cherished son of the late John Kerr and Margaret (Tucker) Kerr. Predeceased by one sister Barbara Kerr. Steven will be sadly missed by many nieces and nephews. Funeral arrangements under the care and direction of LAHAIE AND SULLIVAN CORNWALL FUNERAL HOMES, West Branch, 20 Seventh Street, West Cornwall (613-932-8482). A Memorial Service will be held in the Memorial Chapel of Mount Royal Funeral Complex, 1297 Chemin de la Forêt Outremont, Québec, on Friday, March 22, 2013 at 11 a.m. As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations to S.D.G. & Prescott-Russell Cancer Unit or the Humane Society would be appreciated by the family. Click here to view the online obituary.

What A Difference a Year Makes
Last year on the Tuesday after the St-Patrick's Day Parade (March 20th) I played my first golf game of the year. Granted, I had to drive to Lacolle but the temperature that day reached 27ºC and it felt even warmer in the sun. It was the first day of spring and the following day was warmer. A couple of weeks later, the local golf courses opened. This year, we will be lucky to be playing in April. As of Saturday (March 16), you could have your winter tires removed from your vehicle. If you did, you might be sorry on Tuesday as the snow could cause a lot of trouble. Anyone who talks about global warming should be forced outside to greet the first day of spring. The 10 day weather forecast doesn't look promising as the high for the next 10 days is only 3º. Although I have posted the Environment Canada weather warning above, I have a feeling that we will not be getting that much snow. The radar picture shows the storm system moving fast, so it should be gone by the afternoon rush hour. Update - A second system of snow squalls will move in late Tuesday so we are even getting more than first predicted. No snow tires today would be treacherous. The snow plough was actually stuck in front of my house for 30 minutes this morning.

Forever Young Theatre Company Performs in Dinner Theatre At the Heritage Social Club
On Saturday April 13th, our local seniors, part of the Creative Seniors group, will be performing a play called The Glass Slipper Still Fits, A Senior Cinderella Story. It's a full dinner, dance and show starting with a dinner at 6pm. (doors open at 5pm). It should be a good time. Come and encourage our local talent. Full details and how to order tickets please click here. The attendance is limited to 100, so book early. You won't be disappointed. Update - If you haven't purchased your tickets, the show is now sold out. Better luck next time.

Click here for pictures of March 17th at Emma and Mike's. Courtesy of Casey.

Click Here For Pictures of Friday's St-Patrick's Gala at the Heritage Club featuring The Cats in the Kitchen

Spring Ahead - Golf on the Horizon
Now that we have sprung ahead and the temperatures have climbed to double digits during the day, it's time to think about the golf season. One of the highlights of the golf year is the Dan Klimas Drive For The Cure Golf Classic at Fontainebleau Golf Club. This year the event will be held on Thursday June 27th. There are a limited number of openings as there are already over 125 people that have paid. With a maximum of 144 players, you better hurry and sign up if you don't want to be disappointed. For all the details, please click here.

St Patrick's Day Weekend
Kick off your St Patrick's Day weekend with The Cat's in the Kitchen and the Moran Academy Irish Dancers on Friday, March 15th. It's happening at the Heritage Club and it all starts with the dancers at 7:30pm and the band starting at 9:15pm. Click here for details.
On Saturday, you can continue the celebration at the Pub Deux-Montagnes with specials on green beer and shooters. Details on their website.

Official Petition To Reject Proposed Bill 14
Bill 14, if passed, will further limit the right of minorities in Quebec. The current rules under Bill 101, that are blindly enforced by a zealous OLF team that cost us millions of dollars, are bad enough now but these new proposals have unbelievable new restrictions. If you think the OLF (office de la Langue Francaise) is overreacting now to Pasta and Caffé, when the new rules and beefed up task force under Bill 14 come in, watch out!.
Quebec MNA Geoffrey Kelley, started a petition on the 'National' Assembly website to show opposition to the proposed bill. Currently, there are just over 20,000 signatures. This petition is on the government's own website and is deemed the 'official' petition as there are many other sites that hosts these types of lists. In order to validate that there is actually a real person behind the people who sign and that you have only signed once, the process is fairly elaborate. You first have to give some general personal information with a valid e-mail address. Once that is duly filled out, you will receive an e-mail with a confirmation link. You must confirm the email to be registered. The deadline to sign is May 14, 2013. Below is the actual phrase of the petition:
We, the undersigned, ask the National Assembly to reject Bill 14 and ensure that no further restrictions against the rights of minorities, nor additional bureaucratic burdens be brought forth, but rather maintain the current harmonious relationship for all citizens of Québec.
Click here to go the petition.

Lions Club Hosts Blood Donor Clinic on Tuesday March 5th
Once again this year, the Lions Club has accepted to host and help the Héma-Québec Blood Donor Clinic held Tuesday, March 5th from 13h30 to 19h30 at the Veterans’ Hall (Legion), 141 Grand Moulin Street. Details

Softball at a Reduced Price for U6 and U10 in 2013
The Deux-Montagnes Softball Association will be holding its annual registration on Saturdays March 9 and March 16 from 10 am to 2pm at Olympia Park.

If any 2012 junior member refers a new player to register this year, we will give our current junior member a $10 discount per new player that they bring to register up to a maximum of their registration fee.

There will be a 20% discount applied to the junior leagues for any family that registers 3 children or more.

For more info, please visit http://www.dmsa.ca/en.html or here to see the registration info only.

3 Blind Mice Productions Presents A Three Show Series at the Heritage Club
On Sunday February 24 at 11:30am, 3BM Productions , in collaboration with the Heritage Social Club will be presenting its first of 3 shows, Furry Tails With A Twist. The 3 Show Series for children from the ages of 3 to 93! will continue with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on March 24th and Loucho on April 28. Two out of these three shows were previously performed in well known theatres in Montreal; Centaur Theatre and Le Nouveau International Théâtre Ste-Catherine. They will be at the Heritage Social Club for a one time only showing of comedy, clowning and audience participation fun. A light lunch after the 11:30am shows will be available for purchase as well as a meet and greet with the cast.
Ticket prices: $8 Adults, $6 for Children - Advance ticket purchase preferable at the bar or from a club member. May also be available at the door. Feel free to bring a cushion for the kids to sit on during the show. Popcorn on sale before the show, soup and hot dogs on sale after the show. Call 450-473-5429 for more information. Click here for info on all three shows.

Brian Main
Published in Toronto Star: Suddenly after a courageous battle with cancer at 63 years of age on Thursday, February 14, 2013 at Trillium Mississauga. Beloved husband of Rita Burman. Loving father of Blair Main. Sadly missed by his father Gordon Main. Predeceased by his mother Dorothy. Fondly remembered by his mother-in- law Pauline Newby and brothers-in-law and sisters-in- law. Brian was born in Montreal. He attended Lake of Two Mountains High School and graduated from Pittsburgh University. In 1974 Brian moved to Toronto from Montreal and joined Aetna Casualty Insurance. He worked at Johnson and Higgins, from 1980 to 1987 and then joined the Hobbs Group in 1987. In 1994 he joined HIROC (Healthcare Insurance Reciprocal of Canada) as Vice President Insurance Operations. Brian loved swimming, downhill skiing and scuba diving as well as the annual Notre Dame football outing. He travelled to many countries which included Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Hawaii which held a special place in his heart. A private family service was held at the Glen Oaks Memorial Chapel and Reception Centre. In lieu of flowers donations to a charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences available at www.glenoaks.ca 

Lions Club Senior Appreciation Day
While on the subject of Lions Club activities, their annual senior appreciation day had to be moved to Saturday February 16th (instead of the February 23rd day stated on the municipal calendar). This annual event will be held at the Veterans Hall, 141 Grand Moulin and the doors will open at noon. A luncheon will be served at 12:30, followed by Bingo games, Entertainment, door prizes and other goodies. Admission is free to seniors over 50. This event is sponsored by the city of Deux-Montagnes. As opposed to previous senior days, the meal will be served ahead of the festivities instead of at the end of the day. Coffee, tea and refreshments will be served throughout the day. Links to all Two Mountains sites including the Lions Club are available at the 2mo calendar.
Also on Saturday the 16th, the Heritage Social Club is having a Valentine's BBQ and Dance with DJ Maddy at 7:00pm. The price is $15. To access the new Heritage Club website, click here.

Outdoor Skating In Two Mountains
If you enjoy skating outdoors, you have plenty of options in Two Mountains. The weather has cooperated this year and the ice surfaces are in good shape. There is even a river loop behind the Legion. Click here for all the info on the time and places you can skate.

Score for the Cure Raises Over $3000 for the RVH Foundation
On Saturday February 2nd, the annual ball hockey tournament at the Klimas Sports 'Complex' was once again a success despite minus 13 weather. A slight sprinkling of snow made the ice very slippery for even those wearing broomball shoes. Although the weather was cold, the action was hot as many goals were scored. The winners of both the junior and senior divisions will be fighting it out next Saturday in a challenge match. The real winner was the Royal Victoria Hospital Foundation that will receive a cheque for more than $3000. This money came from the entry fee from the 8 teams, donations towards the food and a raffle for, among other things, tickets to a Canadiens' game. For pictures and a short video, please click here.

Express and Spring Leisure Program Are Available

      
The City of Two-Mountains Express bulletin and the spring leisure programs have been released electronically. Simply click on either of the pictures to open the documents.

Richard (Rick) Harding  April 24, 1948 -January 24, 2013
Published in the Montreal Gazette (Jan 29): It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a very special man. After a brief but brave battle with cancer, Richard went peacefully surrounded by love on Thursday, January 24th,2013.His passing has left a void in our hearts and he will be deeply missed and fondly remembered. Predeceased by his parents Florence and Charles, he is survived by his brother Bruce. Richard leaves to mourn his best friend Lorna, devoted and loving daughters Colleen and Andrea, proud son-in-law Anderson, and his two shining lights who loved their Papa, beloved grandchildren Mateo and Madalyn. Richard leaves many to grieve including Imelda, Valerie & Don, special cousins Maggie & Kevin, nieces, nephews and so many friends from near and far. A man of few words, Richard left an impression on those whose paths he crossed. He will be remembered for his love of family, work, country music, Sunday football and the Habs. A memorial service with a reception afterwards will be held at the Collins Clarke Funeral Home located at 222 Autoroute 20, Pointe-Claire, QC on Sunday, February 3rd at 11:00 a.m. Your expressions of sympathy may be shown with a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society. We love you Dad. Rest in peace.
The view his online obituary and his guestbook, please click here.
 

Eight Two Mountainers Honoured with Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medals

On Sunday January 27th, the member of Parliament, Laurin Liu, presented 25 medals to people who have volunteered in their community over the past and present years. Eight of the recipients were from Two Mountains and were present for the ceremony at the Centre d'Art la petite Eglise in Ste. Eustache.

They are pictured on the right. The people honoured (from left to right) are:  Nel McCristy, Martin Hensen, Darlene Gargul, Christine Neumayer, Laurin Liu (MP), Sandy Allen, Rudy Neumayer and Dave Byers. Missing from the photo is André Ouellete from Agape. Congratulations to all the recipients.

Cribbage Tournament at Pub Deux-Montagnes
There will be a cribbage tournament Sunday January 27 at Two Mo Pub, 2000 Oka Road. The action will start at 2:00pm and the entry fee will be $20. It's the perfect way to spend the first Sunday afternoon since Labour Day without the NFL.

Lions Club Carnival Coming Soon
This year's carnival will be held on Saturday January 26, 2013 at Olympic park on Guy street. The action starts at 11:00am until around 4:00pm. There will be winter games, snowman building (weather permitting), sleigh rides, and many other activities for young and old. The Lions will be serving: Hot Dogs, Soup, Chilli, coffee, tea and juices. Maple syrup on snow will be served. All refreshments will be free of charge, courtesy of The City of Deux-Montagnes. Please come and support your local Lions club. Following the activities, there will be a $12 spaghetti supper at the Veterans' Hall.  Click here for program details.
Winter Carnival Dance
The Heritage Social Club will be hosting a Winter Carnival Dance on Friday January 25th. The doors will open at 5:00pm with food available for sale. The dance itself will start at 7:30pm and will feature the band 'the Deadyets' and D.J. Steve F. The admission is $10 and Too Moo will probably make an appearance. A calendar of upcoming Heritage Club activities can be found here. Remember to consult the 2mo calendar link on the left for all activities.

All Three 'Lauzon' Councillors Are Not Seeking Re-Election
During a press conference held on January 17, Suzette Bigras, City Councillor for the Grand-Moulin District, Mario Saint-Charles, City Councillor for the Lake District and Tom Whitton, City Councillor for the Olympia District, announced that they will not be seeking another term in the upcoming 2013 municipal election. The three councillors were all elected as part of the Lauzon team in the 2009 election. So far only Denis Joannette has announced his intention of running for mayor in the November 2013 election.  Click here for press releases from all 3 councillors.

Busy Little Beavers Preschool Open House
Busy Little Beavers Preschool is having an open house Tuesday January 29 and Friday February 1 from 10am to 2pm. They are a bilingual preschool who have been in Two-Mountains for 6 years now. They offer 2-3 full days of educational schooling per week for 3 to5 year olds. They are 2 educators and have small groups of 6 children per group. For more info call 514-703-5128. The address is 1806 Normandie (next to All Saints church),

Mikaël Kingsbury receives the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

PRESS RELEASE from City of Deux-Montagnes: On January 3, the very talented Deux Montagnes athlete, Mikaël Kingsbury, was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal by Mayor Lauzon and Senator Carignan, for having made a significant contribution to Québec and Canada and having accomplished a significant achievement abroad.
Mikaël has completed the best season in the history of men’s World Cup freestyle skiing claiming 13 podium spots in 13 races. He was also crowned 2011-2012 Canadian champion and winner of the Crystal Globe in moguls and winner of the Big Crystal Globe in all disciplines. Congratulations!

Creative Seniors Program Registration
Are you a senior looking for ways to challenge your mind, ignite your imagination and channel your energy in a positive and fun filled social setting? Creative Seniors, a project of the Heritage Social Club in collaboration with On the Wings of Artisans Coop., is funded by the Federal New Horizons for Seniors Program. The project provides seniors (55+) with opportunities to learn or perfect creative skills. Seniors can also share their particular skills and talents with others. A variety of programs are available and are guided by spirited and enthusiastic facilitators. The 2013 winter session will soon get underway so don't miss your chance to sign up.
Registration takes place on Tuesday, January 15th from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM at the Heritage Social Club, 503 Cedar, Deux-Montagnes, Quebec,
Let the fun begin as you mingle with fellow seniors, share a refreshment and snack, while selecting and signing up for the program(s) that interest you.
Most programs will last for a 10 week period and will start on or around January 21st and end during the week of March 17th. Materials required for the programs are either included in the price of registration or will be provided by the facilitator at a reasonable cost. Programs can only accommodate a certain number of participants so registration is on a first come, first served basis.
For detailed information regarding programs, dates and cost, please click here.

Janet Sullivan - January 1, 1954 - December 21, 2012
It is with great sorrow that the family of Janet Marian Sullivan, originally of Two Mountains, announces her passing at the age of 58, on December 21st, 2012 in Stony Plain, AB.  Janet is survived by her children Matthew, Nathan and Jillian and her siblings, Patricia Wilkinson, Kathleen, John and Paul Sullivan. Janet was predeceased by her parents Kathleen and Clarence Sullivan. Janet's family wishes to acknowledge her many friends who loved and unconditionally supported her, especially in the last several years.
A Memorial Service was held on Friday, January 4, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Parkland Funeral Services Chapel, 3502-44th Avenue, Stony Plain, AB. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Cohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada or The Hervey Foundation for Cats. Click here for her online obituary and guestbook.
My condolences to the family.

NEWSFLASH - Mayor Lauzon Will Not Be Running For a Third Term
At a press conference this afternoon (Wednesday January 9th), Mayor Marc Lauzon announced that his reign as Mayor of Two Mountains will conclude at the November 3rd election. Here is a link to an article (in French) announcing for his intentions. To view it in English, click here for a computerized translation of the article.
Here is my opinion on the announcement. I believe Mayor Lauzon has always had the best interest in the city. Unfortunately, the prior administration had used the city's expansion to offset tax hikes. Once Mayor Lauzon got the reigns of the city in 2005, there wasn't anywhere for the city to expand. Eventually, a very large property tax hike had to happen and no one could be very happy with that. It was that or having a bankrupt town at anyone's mercy. Two Mountains had a very good chance of becoming St-Eustache-sur-le-lac again or even St-Marthe-sur-la-riviere. Fortunately we have stayed away for amalgamation as it has proven a failure almost everywhere else in Quebec. I am not saying that Mr. Lauzon has always made the best decisions for the city. There have been some questionable plans that have provoked a lot of debate but there have also been many positive actions of the last 7 years. For one, Mayor Lauzon and 'his' councillors, were always available to the people. Whether fielding questions about city issues or attending the countless events, they had a presence in the community. Mayor Lauzon said he would be a full time mayor. That he was.
I am not surprised at his announcement. I have been to few meetings where he was confronted by a few very loud opposing voices at question period. There are some people in this town that will complain no matter what. Some have very selfish motives such as still being able to see the lake from their house even though they live hundreds of yards away. One woman at a town citizen committee development meeting even suggested that all waterfront properties should belong to the city and left undeveloped for the enjoyment of all citizens.  I admire Mayor Lauzon's patience with the people that attend meetings just to stir the pot (I mean the stuff in the potty). I know I couldn't possibly take that abuse without appearing on Youtube beating up a citizen. Thank you Marc for the last 7 years and hopefully your last 11 months will be a smooth exit.
I wish anyone entering the ring for the mayoralty this year a lot of luck. The people in this town are not in favour of any kind of progress. The reality is that we have no industry within our borders and no more land to build on to. We certainly don't want to lose the few public green spaces we have. All that is left to do is build denser housing where we can and where we are supposed to, near the two train stations. The other option is to keep raising taxes to unacceptable levels. The NIMBY* attitude of our citizens will make any new mayor of this town earn his salary and then some.
 *Not In My Back Yard. Click here to learn more about Nimbies. You may see pictures of the people who attend our town meetings.
 

Gordon Cormack - October 31, 1952 - January 3, 2013
Gordie passed away on January 3, 2013. The ex Two-Mountainer was living in Parry Sound, Ontario. He was father of Andrew & Donavan Cormack. In his LTMHS days, he played in a band with Dave Pattinson, Michael McGoogan, Martin Taylor and Lillian Proctor. Here is the Victory page with a picture of the band. Gordon was still enjoying playing the guitar as you can see on his Facebook page. Will put a link to an obituary when available.

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