Archive 2023

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Last updated on: February 18, 2025

A Very Mild Year End

In my recollection, I don't remember a New Year's Day without the river and the lake without a cover of ice. Even during the green Christmas of 1980, it was cold enough that the ice had formed. Ice was partially covering the lake last week but it's all gone now. The ice fishing season will be very short this year if it ever gets going. There is absolutely no snow for the 'Skidoo' trails even in the northern Laurentians. Take a look at the video below. It shows the landscape around the future Grand-Moulin REM station and what it should look like in winter. The REM is due to start in late 2024 if all goes well and based of the progress that is seen here, fingers crossed, it could be a reality.

The video on the left shows that it doesn't take long for Mother Nature to change the landscape. The first part was filmed on New year's day while the second part was recorded on January 8th after the first snowfall of 2024.

Hartland 'Hartsey' Monahan - 1951-2023

Hartland Monahan, a former NHL forward who played in 334 NHL games passed away on December 10th at the age of 72. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Monahan's father-in-law is the late Hall of Famer Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion, and is the father of former Major League Baseball player Shane Monahan.

Selected by the California Golden Seals in the 1971 NHL Entry Draft, Monahan played only one game with the Golden Seals before he was traded to the New York Rangers. During the 1975 NHL Intra-League Draft, he was claimed by the Washington Capitals, where he played for two seasons. Monahan was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1977, and would be dealt again during the 1977–78 season to the Los Angeles Kings. After a season in the minors, he was claimed by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft, and was traded soon after to the St. Louis Blues, where he played until he retired following the 1980–81 NHL season. In 334 NHL games, he scored a total of 61 goals and 80 assists.

Hartland lived in Atlanta, Georgia, and was a retired manager for United Parcel Service. Currently "Hart" as he is known by his close friends and associates is the Director of OnlineDonations.us, a team and educational fundraising company located in the Atlanta metro area. In 2014, an ice arena in his hometown of Laval West, Quebec was named in his honour after a letter writing campaign.

Condolences to his family and friends and may he Rest in Peace.
 

Diana Jean McHarg - July 24,1944 - August 20, 2023

Obituary from Montreal Gazette published November 21st, 2023

Our loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who passed away three months ago on August 20, 2023.

She is dearly missed by her family, friends, and the communities of Deux-Montagnes and St. Eustache.

Her outgoing personality, beautiful smile, and generosity will always be remembered.

Click here to go to her online obituary.

4Korners Christmas Market - Saturday November 25

Two-Mountains Makers will be hosting a Christmas market on Saturday November 25th at 11am-3pm at 4korners, 1650 Chemin d"Oka.

A The Nightmare Before Christmas inspired market there will be local artisans, face painting, The Nightmare Before Christmas art activity, and a Christmas card making station.

Here is the link to the event

Canada Day Video Finally Ready

Blame it on the weather or too much golf, but I didn't get around to editing the video clips I took on Canada Day until this week. As they say, better late than never so you can view it below.

Dustan Dion - 2007 - 2023

Dustan Roderick Dion was born in St-Eustache Hospital on October 31st 2007. He was a beloved son to Karen LeBlanc and Roderick Dion, a younger brother to Jakob(Charlie) and Ashton, and older brother to Joshuah. He was grandson to Yetta (Bill), nephew to Dan(Mari-Lou), Dave, Mike(Lisa), Mark(Megan), and cousin to Kelly, Tyler, and Danielle-Rose.

He attended Mountainview Elementary School, followed by Laval Junior Academy, Laval Senior Academy, and most recently Lake of Two Mountains High School. He played soccer for the St-Joseph du Lac Phoenix Team, and hockey for the Deux-Montagnes Panthers, LJA Vipers, LSA Blue and Gold, and most recently the LTM Titans. He also played softball in Deux Montagnes for the Red Sox, and Lacrosse for the Kanesatake Warriors and St-Eustache Diablo.

Dustan tragically passed away on October 11th, 2023 during a motor vehicle accident. He will be remembered for being headstrong and brave, and for being a fierce friend for those he loved, and mourned by his family, friends, peers, and team mates.

A viewing was held on Saturday the 28th from 1PM-4:30PM and 6:30PM-9PM, and Sunday the 29th from 1PM-4:30 PM and 6:30PM-9PM. The funeral service was on Sunday the 29th at 8 PM. Long Live Dustan.

A gofundme page has been set up in his honour and funds will go to the LTMHS Titans. Click here for the gofundme page.

Click here to view his online obituary.

Check Your Ceiling Fans

A funny thing happened yesterday that could have turned out to be not that funny. As we were watching the Montreal Alouettes bury the the Hamilton TigerCats (a redundant word) to reach the CFL Eastern semi-final, something fell from the sky. Not really the sky, but from the ceiling in our living room. When we built our house in 1986, yes, almost 40 years ago, although we still call it the new house sometimes, we did not have air conditioning of any kind. The only form of relief from heat waves was two ceiling fans, one in the bedroom and one in the living room way up in the cathedral ceiling which is at a 45 degree angle. We replaced the bedroom one years ago to eliminate an annoying clicking noise. Old faithful in living room was just given a facelift about 10 years ago when the brass look had become passé and didn't match our new decor. A few spray cans of 'stainless steel' paint and flipping the blades as to not see the cane webbing inserts and voila, the old rotor got a new life. In reality, the ceiling fan has gotten very little use in the last 15 to 20 years as I was 'ordered' to have a means of cooling down the house as my better half was having her own internal furnace issues.
About 6 weeks ago, the fan did get a workout. For 2 days during the last September heat wave, our AC system went on the Fritz. Suddenly, the temperature in the house rose to the upper 90's and there was very little relief at night. The living room fan was on full power for those 2 days and we lived to tell the tale. It had laid dormant for the last 6 weeks, but yesterday, out of the blue, one of the blades simply dropped off the unit. Thankfully, it wasn't turning. It fell at our feet just glancing my knee. If this had happened 6 weeks ago at full power, one blade flying off would have certainly unbalanced to entire unit sending the other blades off in different directions. Our living room might have looked like a scene from Apocalypse Now. Today I checked, the other blades of the fan and sure enough, one blade easily broke free after just a couple of tugs. As you can see by the pictures below, the constant stress on the 'metal' eventually took its toll and reached a point where it couldn't even hold the weight of the blade. Fortunately, we were spared possible decapitation. Also, had this happened on Thursday night while we were binge watching Edgar Allan Poe's the Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix, one of us might have had a cardiac event. This might entice you to take a look at your old fans while they are still in the air.

The Final Awarding of the LTMHS Paul Goyetche Visual Arts Bursary.

In 2013, a bunch of people got together at the Heritage Social Club and held a little celebration for me. I don't know exactly why all these people showed up but in the end there was a collection and a scholarship fund in my name was established. The Paul Goyetche Visual Arts and Multi-Media bursary was born. In 2016, after years of successful fundraising I added the 2mopaul.com Music bursary. In 10 years, over $8,000 was raised through various activities and people generosity. In all, the Visual Arts bursary was awarded 10 times and the Music one was given out 6 times.

After 10 years, these awards had run their course and since it was my own 50th anniversary as a graduate of the LTM Class of 73, I felt it was a good time to give it one last hurrah. The Visual Arts bursary of $500 was split between 2 recipients, Reilly Blackstock and William Gauthier. The was a little money left in the coffers, so I gave out a couple of more to the unsuspecting Class of 2023. The video below shows the surprise and a bit of the proceedings. For all the info and pictures of the past honourees, there is a link on the top right of this site.

Two-Mountains Harvest Party - Sunday October 29th, 2023

The Two-Mountains Makers are holding a 'Harvest Party' on Sunday October 29th from 11am to 2:45pm at Lilianne Music School at 1401 Oka Road.

At the event, there will be live music by Ecole de musique Lilianne and the lovely Silka Weil at 11-2pm. Alongside, there will be tours the whole day of the dynamic music school. Children's activities include face painting/henna, a pumpkin decorating station by Pimp my pumpkin - Deux-Montagnes, and an art activity by L’Atelier Café Arts et Céramique. ALL ACTIVITIES ARE FREE OF CHARGE.

On site there will be an artisan market full of local makers selling seasonal wares. We are especially excited for InTerreArt Osbl, a community agriculture organization, who will give a talk about the benefits of native plants and host a medicinal plant giveaway. Supplies are limited. The Lions Club will also be selling their famous fruit cakes at this event. Click here for all the info of the event.

Lions 19th Annual Giant Book Fair

The 19th annual book fair is happening this weekend (Saturday October 21 and Sunday October 22) at the Veteran's Hall, 141 Grand-Moulin. The hours at 8am to 4 pm. Paperback books are $1. Hard covers are $2 and children's book are 3 for $1. There are also collector books that are priced as marked.

For persons with limited mobility or with small children in carriages, the doors open exclusively to those on Friday October 20th from 1pm to 4pm

As always, profits from the sale will be used to serve our community.  For more information you can call Nancy Ronik at 450 473-0298 or Martin Hensen at 450 473-1932

Construction Around the Legion

If you've tried to drive down Grand-Moulin to Oka road recently, the road has been either blocked entirely or you are in for a bumpy ride near the Legion. There is a lot of construction happening in the area. A new centennial park has been in the works since 2021 but has been delayed due to COVID and other legal reasons. The work is now being done along with a lot of other changes in the area. Take a look at the video below for a before and now look at the progress. I will posted another video when the project is complete. For now, the work on the Legion parking lot has to be complete by the October 20th weekend as this is the weekend of the giant book fair held by the Lions Club. Stay tuned for that announcement.

June Stewart-Burgoyne - 1925 - 2023

The family of June Stewart-Burgoyne (nee Sharpe), sadly announces that she passed away peacefully on September 28, 2023, at the age of 98. She leaves behind a legacy of love and compassion, that will forever be cherished by her family and the countless lives she touched.
Born and raised in Leicester, England, June learned the values of hard work and resilience from an early age. As a young woman, she became a member of the Women's Royal Naval Service (WREN) during World War II and met and married Joe Stewart-Burgoyne, a Canadian Naval officer. She traveled as a war bride on the Queen Mary in 1946 to join him in Canada.
After the war, June's focus shifted towards building a loving family. She and Joe raised six children. June was devoted to her family and enjoyed countless hours playing with her grandchildren.
June's caring nature extended far beyond her own family. She worked as a kindergarten teacher and later, worked for We Sit Better in Montreal, offering a helping hand to families struggling through difficult times. Her ability to empathize and provide comfort made her a beloved caregiver to the elderly, bringing immense joy to their lives during their golden years.
She was a lifetime member of two Royal Canadian Legions (branches 185 & 285) and spent many hours volunteering with the Ladies Auxiliary for worthy charities. In addition to her many acts of service, June's talents as an author shone brightly. She brought friends together in her column for The Skyline magazine and her life story was featured in Oh Canada Magazine.
June's passing leaves a void in the hearts of her loved ones. She is survived by her beloved brother, David Sharpe (Ontario), and her children, Jimmy Stewart-Burgoyne (Sudbury, Ont.), Valerie Emond (Glennifer Lake, AB), Pauline (Randy) Ross (Edmonton, AB), and Veronica (Richard) Saretsky (Emma Lake,SK). June is also survived by many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews who will forever cherish the memories they created together.
June was preceded in death by her children, Roxsane Tamsen (Calgary, AB) and, Malcolm Stewart-Burgoyne (Medicine Hat, AB). Her brother Colin Sharpe (Australia), sister, Marion Couldrey (Maple Ridge, BC), who now welcome her into eternal peace.
As we bid farewell to June, let us remember her unwavering love, nurturing spirit, and compassionate nature that will forever be etched in our hearts. May her soul rest in eternal peace, and may her legacy continue to inspire us all to be a light in the lives of others.
A celebration of June’s life will be held at Eden Brook Funeral Home, at 2 PM on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Calgary Women in Need Society (WINS) in June’s name would be appreciated. Click here for her online obituary.

OCTOBER

There is still time to join the October tournament. If you play Wordle everyday and would like to see how you compare to other Wordlers, this is the place. To join, look at this page. The link to the game is the icon on the bottom left of the menu options.

Donna Lavallée - 1960 - 2023

Passed away, Mrs. Donna Lavallée in Saint-Eustache, on September 22, 2023 at the age of 63.  wife of Robert Pagé.

She leaves to mourn, her husband, Robert Pagé, her children: Patrick (Marie-Eve), Michelle-Lyne (Brian), her grandchildren Arthur, Constance, William, her sisters Diane, Margie (Doug), her nephews and nieces, as well as several other relatives and friends.

The family will receive condolences on Monday October 9, 2023 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at:

Goyer Funeral Complex Ltd 147, boul. Arthur-Sauvé, Saint-Eustache
(450) 473-5934

A tribute celebration will take place from 4:00 p.m. in the complex’s chapel.

Your expressions of sympathy can result in a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Click here for her online obituary.
 

Peter James Froggatt - 1957 - 2023

Pete Froggatt passed away in hospital on Sunday, September 10 at the age of 66 after a very short battle with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). His death came as a shock to his family and to all his friends. Pete had just retired in July after almost 45 years with Siemens Milltronics where he worked as a designer/illustrator and was making plans for years of travel and adventure. He was very much loved by everyone who had the great fortune to know him. He was a passionate outdoorsman and a talented painter, inspiring so many people through his lived experiences.

Pete was born in Montreal, Quebec on June 20, 1957 (alongside his twin brother, Bob) to parents Geoff and Grace Froggatt. He attended Laval West Elementary School, and later Rosemere High School so that he could take courses in technical drawing.
In 1978, Pete married Trish McGoogan and the two left Quebec soon after to begin a new life in Peterborough, Ontario. Pete was a gifted artist and soon established himself as a designer/illustrator working at Milltronics (later Siemens) in 1979. He and Trish went on to have two boys, Jeremy and Richard. He was a proud dad and eventually would become a proud grandpa too.
Pete was an early adopter of technology that aided him in his work and would eventually take on a part-time position at Sir Sandford Fleming College, where he taught Computer-Aided Design (CAD). Click here to view his FULL obituary.

Friends are invited to attend a celebration of Pete’s life that will be held on Sunday, September 24 from 12-4pm at the Peterborough Pagans Rugby Club located at 725 Armour Road, Peterborough, Ontario (casual attire).
For those wishing to make a charitable donation in Pete's name, please do so with The Peterborough Rugby Club (through the City) https://forms.peterborough.ca/City-of-Peterborough-Donation-Form and The Art School of Peterborough https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-art-school-of-peterborough/

Can't make it to the Peace and Love Two-Mountains Reunion?

The big reunion that is less than 3 weeks in the planning has over 60 confirmed attendees. It's only 2 weeks away and many of you needed more time to make room for the event. There is time to register and it's only 25 bucks. We are limited to 100 attendees because of the hall size. Send an e-transfer to 2mtns.peaceandlove@gmail.com and you are automatically registered.

 If you can't make it, we would still love to hear from you. How about sending a short video saying hello to the gang? Even just a picture, with a message. How about an old picture that we could show on the big screen. If you have any of these things, you can simply use this link and upload it.

UPDATE - We now have 85 attendees, so we are almost sold out. Send us your e-transfer before it's too late and the hall's capacity is reached.

Donald White - 1951 - 2023

It is with a very heavy heart that we announce Don passed away on August 28, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and heart disease. He is finally at peace.

Don was the much-loved husband and best friend of Corinne (Smith), with whom he shared almost 50 years. He will be sadly missed by his daughters, Andrea and Kim (Noel Rieder), and was a cherished Gramps to Emily, Sébastien, Ethan, Abigail, and grand-dog Dude.

He was the son and brother of the late Stan, Kay, and Bob, and he will be missed by Jacky, Jamie, and Chrystal.

A celebration of life will be held at the Heritage Social Club, 503 Cedar street, Deux-Montagnes  on Saturday September 9th, 2023 from 1pm to 5pm.

Please click here to access his Montreal Gazette obituary and guestbook.

The First Annual Peace and Love Reunion Party

Who is invited? Anyone who has a heartfelt attachment to Two Mountains.
Where? At the Heritage Social Club
When? Friday September 22nd and Saturday September 23rd.
Details: Friday night is a regular Karaoke night starting at 8:00pm. Drop in for a beverage and maybe have enough to get up and do a song. Free admission.
Saturday from noon to 4pm - Jam session - Live music - Come listen or join in then rest up for 3 hours as the party starts at 7:00pm. Admission is $25 paid in advance by e-transfer to (2mtns.peaceandlove@gmail.com) or $30 at the door if not sold out. (includes music, fun and hors d'oeuvres). There is a limit of 100 at the hall, so don't miss out.
Dress code: Casual - Tye-dyed apparel is encouraged. This is a totally non-profit event.
The planning committee: Lori Leonard, Connie McAllister Barrie, Brian Snell, Jim Brown, Louis Morin, Tommy Riddle and Paul Goyetche. Be there or be square!

Joan (Rozon) Whitton - 1941 - 2023

In St-Eustache, on August 4th 2023, at the age of 82, Mrs Joan Whitton (nee Rozon) peacefully passed away. She was the beloved wife of the late Mr Thomas Charles Whitton.

She is survived by her sons Thomas (France) and Terry (Julie), her grandchildren Stéphanie (Maxime), Sarah (Mathieu), Patrick (Alexandra) and Katya, her great-grandchildren, her brother Arnold, her nephews & nieces and many other relatives and friends.

The family will receive condolences at Guay Funeral Home in Saint-Eustache : 146 St-Louis St, St-Eustache, QC, J7R 1Y2
on Friday, August 18th, 2023, from 5pm to 8pm, a ceremony will follow at 8pm.

Click here for her online obituary.

39th Annual Happy Gang Golf Tournament Scheduled For Sunday September 24th

Good news. The 39th Annual Ron Kesseler 'Happy Gang" Tournament is a go. As you may know, Ron have moved to the greener pastures of Ontario but will return to hold his perennial golf tournament once again. This year again it will take place at the Oka Golf Course. It's a 10:30am shotgun start on Sunday September 24th, 2023 and we ask you to arrive between 9:30 and 10 to register and prepare for the start. The price this year is $65 which includes golf, cart and a $20 prize 'pot'. If you would rather walk, the price will be reduced slightly.
Everyone is welcome and the format is, as always, a 3 person best ball (Vegas/Scramble), 2 teams per hole. You can make your own team of 3 or if you are looking for a team, Ron can make the arrangements. All the money from the $20 'pot' will be returned to the players with the majority given out in a random draw so any team can be a big winner. There is a maximum of 72 players so hurry up and register by contacting Ron at this email ronk@2mopaul.com.

Check Out This Video

Flashback - All Saints Kindergarten Class - Circa 1958/59

Recognize anyone? Thanks to Michael Catsburg for the photo

We Are Back From The Rock

We just got back from Newfoundland today (August 1st). We spent 9 days on the Rock. We landed in St-John's on Sunday July 23rd and immediately drove to Gander for a performance of Come From Away, the story of how Gander handled 38 grounded planes and 7000 stranded passengers during 9/11. It was our third time seeing the show, 2016 in Toronto, 2018 in Montreal and this time in Gander itself. We then went on to Grand Falls to visit family. On Wednesday (July 26th) we headed back o St-John's to prepare for a family reunion that was attended by over 130 Smith family members. The weather didn't quite co-operate as the golf tournament was very wet but some people braved the rain and had a great time. There are pictures of the trip at this link if you are interested. A video is available by clicking the image below.

Starts August 1st

Another round of Wordle Golf is about to start. If you are not familiar with concept, I started a little friendly competition using the New York Times Wordle of the day. How it works is that you do your regular Wordle and simply send me (at pgoyetche@yahoo.ca) your result with the share option. Obviously, the aim in Wordle is to solve in the few attempts which is the same as golf. Check out the link at the bottom left of this page. To enter, simply send me an e-mail at the above address with one or two suggestions for starting words. Oh yeah, the twist in this competition is that every player must start with the same word. You will see some of the compulsory words for each day at the link below or this link.

Bertrand 'Bert' Richer - 1954 - 2023

It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Bertrand Richer on July 7, 2023, at the CHUM in Montreal. He was 68 years old. Predeceased by his mother (Mary Hodgson), his father (Rosaire Richer), his brother Bernard and his companion of 20 years, Diane Lambertucci.

He leaves to mourn his brother Robert; Peter Lambertucci; Donna Lambertucci and her husband, Larry Gruberg, and their children, Christopher and Molly; his nieces and nephews; and many friends.

He will be dearly missed by the Landrys (his “second family”), especially Marge and Rick—his best friend and sidekick for more than 60 years—and their children, Amy (Jason Clarke) and Jason (Stacey Sullivan), and grandchildren (Lyana and Ellie).

Special thanks to the ICU team at CHUM for their compassion and excellent care.

A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, August 13^th at 2 p.m. at All Saints Anglican Church, 248 18th Avenue, Deux-Montagnes, Quebec, J7R 4B1.

Ron Wall - 1948 - 2023

Ronald Gordon Wall “Ron”, born October 25th of 1948 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Loving son of Gordon Wall and Doris Howard, Ron passed away on July 9th of 2023 in New Mexico. He is survived by the love of his life Carole, married fifty-one years, his daughter Stacy and son-in-law Gabe, son Ryan and daughter-in-law Jennie, four beautiful grandchildren, Carson, Aiden, Dawson, and Camdyn and New Zealand family Ruth, Amanda and Ben.

Ron loved life, living every moment for his family, for his friends and in search of a good laugh. Ron thoroughly enjoyed helping others learn and watching them become better, whether at math, golf or pickleball. He was and shall always remain a deeply loving husband, an inspiring father, and the most authentic friend adored by so many people who feel lucky to have known him as the truly unique and special man that he was. Ron was a gentle soul who developed a wicked sense of humour late in life and who will be remembered by many for his quiet loving ways, his ability to fill hearts with peace and goodwill, and for his unannounced “walkabouts” where his destination shall forever remain a mystery. We are certain he has reunited with his Mom and Dad, sister, brother, nephew and cousin Dick, playing cards, listening to music, and having a beer (or two) together.

Rest in Peace Ron. We will all be together again someday. Of this, I have no doubt.

We are honouring Ron's wishes not to have a service, just a small private ceremony at home with only his wife, children and grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, you can support a cause dear to Ron's heart, youth athletics, by making a contribution via check to RJGA, PO Box 521, Ruidoso, NM

Earl Samuel MacDonald - July 12, 1940 - July 5, 2023

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our beloved Earl, who passed away at St. Mary’s Hospital on July 5th, 2023, one week before his 83rd birthday.
Beloved husband for 46 years of Lynne, cherished father of Jessica (Andy) and Christopher (Scarlett), devoted grandfather of Sam.

He will be deeply missed by his brothers Eddy (Diane), Bryan (Sandie), Hugh (Gisele) and his sister Cathy, as well as nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Earl started his teaching career at the spry age of 19, and over the span of 40 years, did his best to enlighten countless students. Laval Catholic High School held a special place in his heart. In his over two decades there as a physical education instructor he coached women’s basketball, teamed up with many lifelong friends, and kicked off his relationship with Lynne. He ended his career at Our Lady of Peace, teaching 3^rd and 4^th grade with great joy for 12 years. Always the sportsman, Earl had a passion for football and hockey, and his skates graced the ice until his 80th year.

He was a friend to many, and always ready with a cold beer and a chaser of sharp wit. Cheers to Earl the Pearl!

The family will receive condolences on Wednesday, July 12th, 2023 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, at Complexes funéraires Yves Légaré, 1350 Autoroute 13, Laval, QC H7X 3W9.

The family wishes to thank the nurses and doctors at St. Mary’s Hospital for their compassion and amazing care.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation would be appreciated.

Click here for the Gazette Obituary. Click here for the Funeral parlour Obituary. Click here for a few more pictures of Earl.

Canada Day Goes On Despite Miserable Weather

Somehow, most of the Canada Day activities including the fireworks went on as planned even though the weather left much to be desired. Three downpours and lots of lightning kept a lot of people away but a crowd stuck around for the final act called Elton Songs. There was a break in the weather between 2 and 5 so the children's races were held as well as the traditional egg toss which may have set a new record for distance and number of attempts although accurate records are not kept. A video will be available later this month. For now pictures are available at this link.

Robin Heeley-Ray - R.I.P.

In Hudson, on June 15th 2023, at the age of 78, Robin passed away peacefully in his room at Tim's house. Husband of the late Joanne, father of Liz (Pierre) and Tim (Miky), brother, grandfather and principal, Ace loved his family, his antiques, his cards and to dance.

We will always be grateful for the love he gave us and the life lessons he taught us.

The family will receive condolences on Wednesday, June 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Guay Funeral Home, 146 St-Louis Street, St-Eustache.

To view his online obituary and perhaps leave a message, click here.

What A Weekend - LTM 50 Reunion a Smashing Success

One word can describe to weekend: WOW!. Last night's main event was attended by 80 people including teachers Keith Rogers and Mrs. Sue Rogers and Felicia Cocking who graced us with their very funny speeches. A big thank you to all three for accepting our invitation and making this night extra special. Also thanks to the 30 odd people (very odd) who participated in the rediscover Two-Mountains car rally. It was gruelling route of 19.4 kilometres travelling through the streets of our town and a smidgen of St-Eustache. The team of Annette Jancewicz, Gary Pope and Shelley Hermiston came out on top by in a virtual tie with team Getty, featuring Lynda and Karen and Rick Fougere. One of the steps of the rally was to buy a lottery ticket and alas we came up empty.

Today, Sunday, over 50 people survived the weekend and the smoke in the air and made it to the brunch at Le Cask, a newly opened restaurant in Two-Mountains. It was the cherry on top of the vanilla ice cream. (Get the red and white connection?). Once the dust settles and my batteries are recharged, there will be lots of content with many great pictures from our popular photo booth. A video will follow. The entire content will be available on the link on the left side of this page. This link will remain there forever, so it will be easy to find. For attendees, if you have pictures to share with us, the dropbox will be available for the next little while. This is a link to it.

LTM Reunion Kicks Off with a Bang

The weekend is finally here. We kicked off the weekend by roaming the hallways and classrooms of the old school. The self guided tours included a lot of reminiscing and stories of yore. The hour flew by and then it was off to the meet and greet at the Heritage Social Club for more hugs and stories. The smiles were abound and the 50 year gap seemed like just a few days since we hadn't seen each other. The appetizers whipped up by Hazel and her crew were well received. Everyone also appreciated the various video projected through the evening some of which will be available on my YouTube channel in the next few weeks. Also, a picture gallery will be available with lots of snapshots.

Saturday's activities take off with a car rally that will wind its way through Two-Mountains in treasure hunt/geo-caching/trivia 'race'. It's not a race because you can take as long as you want. The key will be to follow instructions to the letter and not stray off course. Following the rally, the main event will start at 5pm. Hazel will once again lead her crew in serving our dinner and the fun will continue. Lots of surprises are in store, so stayed tuned for pictures.

For those who have not had enough, a Sunday brunch is planned for all takers at the newly opened Le Cask on 20th avenue.

One Big Victory and a Small One

Firstly, congratulations to the Las Vegas Golden Knights on winning their first Stanley Cup after only 6 years in the league. The Bettman experiment has paid off, for him at least. Another year without a Canadian team getting to the final round. The other victory is me finding out that my car, ordered on February 9th of 2022, 490 days ago is finally on the rails being shipped from Vancouver. Actually, the guy that ordered before me was supposed to get this one but he didn't get back to the dealership in enough time, so you snooze you lose.

I was originally told that I would probably get it in April 2023, so it's really not that late, except that I had to settle for a car without the panoramic moon roof. If I did wait for the model with the roof, I probably would not get it until next year as Hyundai has been really behind due to the supply of the huge glass roofs. The car I am getting is the IONIQ 5 Preferred AWD Long Range. This will be MY electric car as I have been using my better half's electric Nissan Leaf and now Nissan Ariya for the last 3 years. People say we are crazy not to keep a gas car for road tripping, but I am sold on electric. Fully electric vehicles are not for everybody and if we were not living in Quebec where the electric rates are very low as compared to the rest of North America I doubt I would be all in on the concept. Once I receive delivery of my car in a couple of weeks, I will be able to drive by gas stations without being disgusted at the forever fluctuating price per litre of gas.

The electric/ICE (Interal Cumbustion Engine) debate is in full force. It's not unlike the iPhone/Android debacle but it's more along the lines of Republican/Democrat division or closer to home, conservative or liberal. The republican/conservative people will pull out articles about the disadvantages of going electric of which many are articles backed by the oil industry. You've seen them with headings like: 20 things they won't tell you about electric cars.

Yes, going electric has growing pains. The charging infrastructure leaves a bit to be desired but is getting better. If you are not travelling away from home much, then 99% of your charging will happen at your home or if you are lucky you can charge for free at work. And no, you won't have to invest $2000 for a home charger as many cars (except Tesla) come with a 'portable' charger that can plug in to 110v or 220v at home. Range does suffer for electric cars in really cold weather, so there are still a few things to consider when looking at going electric.

I know someone who's even happier than me about my new car, and she is getting back full control of her car soon.

A New Restaurant Opens In Deux-Montagnes

Last weekend saw the opening of a new enterprise in our town, a welcome addition in a town of 18,000 inhabitants and just a handful of dining choices. Le Cask Pub et Grille, situated on 20th avenue will be serving pub fare with a twist as you will see by their menu. Along with some traditional choices, why not try a butter chicken pizza or perhaps a beef curry served with basmati rice and naan bread? Should the weather start to cooperate, it features a large terrace, so you can enjoy a large selection of beer and other favorites.

Now in its first week of operation, it is still a work in progress as the staff gets trained and systems are fine-tuned. Fridays and Saturdays will feature live music and a breakfast/brunch will be offered on weekends.

The address is 587 20th avenue. The phone number is 450-491-8191. Their website is here at lecask.com. Or visit their Facebook page here.

Lets support our local businesses.   

Am I The Reason for Bill 96?

The controversial Bill 96 has enraged me beyond words although I am a French Canadian at birth and only really started to speak English in Grade 3 when we moved to Two-Mountains in 1964. Had my parents not decided to move from my native Jonquiere, you certainly wouldn't be reading this right now. I probably wouldn't even be able to type these words in 'historic' English. There is no telling of where I would be right now as language and many other factors contributed to my 'successful' career in computer systems. I strongly believe that my knowledge of English helped me considerably in the early years of computing as most computer languages were English based and their documentation was mostly available in the Shakespearean tongue.

Knowing English (and French) has opened a multitude of doors for me and now that travel is a major part of my life, I hate to think of how my life would be affected should I only speak French. Would my travel be limited to spending winter in certain parts of Fort Lauderdale and the odd trip to France and Belgium? I could always spend a few weeks in Haiti or maybe safari in parts of Africa colonized by France years ago. Vietnam anyone?

The English side of me despises Bill 96 but I'm not one of those people who won't understand when a doctor has to speak to me in French. I don't care that when I call the city I have to speak in French or lie that I can't speak it. I despise the bill of what it does to my mother-in-law who moved here years ago from Newfoundland and never had the gift to learn a second language. I despise the bill, because it's actually working to have my friends hate this province enough to leave it behind and go to 'greener' pastures where at least they will be able to get services in a language they thoroughly understand. I despise it because I am beginning to feel like a second class citizen in my own country that is supposed to defend my rights as a proud Canadian.

If you are reading this from another province or even from the land down under 'America', it's probably because you decided that enough was enough. The threat of separation in the 70's and 80's made you part of the exodus and you are looking back laughing at all the poor people that stayed behind. Up to this point, one could possibly ignore all the din and live a very happy life as an anglo in Quebec and certainly as a bilingual person, you could function as well as anywhere else in Canada. Quebec has some of the best consumer protection laws in North America and the best electricity rates anywhere. It's actually a great place.

Now enter our racist premier Francois Legault. Technically, Mr. Legault is not racist as the English language is not a race but he does hate English people and especially indigenous people who mostly speak English when not their own native language. I take that back, he IS a racist but he is not the only one. He has an army of devotees who feel the same way. He keeps claiming that there is no 'systematic' racism in Quebec. If there wasn't, there sure is now. The 'system' is now in place to prove that racism exists and is even promoted. You may as well put posters up everywhere: NO ENGLISH HERE and in small print: 'unless you can learn French in 6 months or less'.

If you are French, you are probably not reading this right now so I will stick my neck out here. Since you are French in Quebec, you are forbidden to attend an English school of any kind (except private I think, maybe?). Isn't this a bit like the Taliban making sure that woman do not get an education beyond 6th grade. Their 'men' want to keep control of things by making sure that women don't get smarter and take over the 'reigns'. If women were in charge, the world would certainly be a better place.

Bill 96 is bad enough for English people, but for the French in Quebec, it's a version of keep them dumb and keep them here. Of course, these rules don't affect politicians because somehow, they manage to have themselves and their children learn English. Tell me what you think by dropping me an email in either of the official languages of this country. Right now, Je Me Souviens de la Belle Province.

Click here for some feedback I have been getting on my views regarding Bill 96.

We're BAAACK!

We just arrived from a 16 day tour of Sicily and Southern Italy. The weather didn't always cooperate but we had a great time. We are adjusting to the 6 hour time change. As usual we documented our trip as we went along with lots of pictures. The blog is mainly for us to remember some of the trials and tribulations of our travels. We are welcome to read it at this link. The picture on the top left is in front of the Temple of Concordia in the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento built in 430 B.C. This is one of the best preserved Doric temples in the world. There are ruins of 6 more temples in this area but this one has stood the test of time. If you are familiar with the UNESCO World Heritage Site logo, it was used as the model for it.
The picture on the right is in the town of Alberobello known for its trullo houses with their distinct conical roof. There are many theories behind the origin of the design. One of the more popular theories is that due to high taxation on property, the people of Apulia built dry stone wall constructions so that they could be dismantled quickly when tax inspectors were in the area.   

André Ouellet - October 22, 1940 - April 25, 2023

André Ouellet, a pillar of the community, passed away on Tuesday April 25th. He was the man behind the Dépannage St-Agapit and Agapé that provided food to our town's needy.

Translation from Guay Funeral site - In Saint-Eustache, on April 25, 2023, at the age of 82, passed away Mr. André Ouellet, husband of Mrs. Cécile Dubé.

Besides his wife, he is survived by; his children: Marie-Josée (Jean), Éric (Withline) and Chantal (Daniel), his grandchildren: Camille, Charles-Antoine, Juliette, Marianne, Léo and Étienne, his sisters and his brother: Marcelle, Rachel and René (Danielle), her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Rolande, Béatrice, Fernande (Benoit), Ginette (Fernand), Auguste, Thérèse, Jeannine and Diane as well as her nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives and friends. He also leaves to mourn his many volunteer friends with whom he worked so much.

Your expressions of sympathy can be expressed with a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, www.coeuretavc.ca

The family will receive condolences on Friday, May 5, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Guay Funeral Home, 146 St-Louis Street, St-Eustache.
The funeral will be celebrated on Saturday, May 6, at 11 a.m. at Saint-Agapit Church, 1002 Oka Road, Deux-Montagnes.
Click here to view his online obituary.

Play this teaser video of the LTMHS 50 Year Reunion.

All Saints Hall Spring Afternoon Tea

On Saturday April 22nd at 2pm, All Saints Church, at 248 18th Avenue, is holding its Spring Afternoon Tea. Tea is served in fine china along with finger sandwiches and a selection of pastries. The cost is $15. Reservations are required and can be obtained by contacting Kathleen at 450-472-3065 or by e-mail at pilkington@sympatico.ca.

Ocean City Golf
My apologies for not putting up a April fools story. I just got back late last night from a golf trip to Ocean City, Maryland so I didn't have time to think up a good April Fool's prank like the one from a couple of years ago (link here). The golf trip was really good and at $438USD for 5 days of golf with cart including lodging. I have some pictures, from the trip posted of you are interested with the link here. I will have a video ready in the next week with lots of drone footage of the area and the golf courses.

Atlantic City Trip
The annual Atlantic City trip from Two-Mountains is back on this year. The popular outing had to take some COVID time off but it's back on from May 21st to 25th. The trip includes deluxe motor coach transportation, 4 nights in a hotel, $40US in 'play' money, 4 x $20 meal vouchers and much more. The cost is $645CAD in double occupancy with more pricing details here. For more info or to reserve, plase call Bunny at 438-398-5198. You must hold a valid Canadian passport.
On that note, we just had a very pleasant passport renewal process at the Services Canada outlet near the swimming pool in St-Eustache. We were promised that our new passports would be ready in one month but we actually got them less than 3 weeks from visiting the office. We did have to book an appointment, which added to our initial time but I am sure they would take walk-in's. The staff there was super friendly and fully bilingual. I strongly recommend our local Services Canada office especially after seeing all the horror stories of the passport offices in the city. Click here for all the details of the AC trip.

LTMHS 50 Year - Class of 1973 Reunion
Last Call Before Opening to 1972 and 1974 Grads...
The big reunion weekend is only 100 days or so away, so it's time to make sure you are part of the party. Due to our venue's capacity, the Class of 1973 only has 2 more weeks to confirm their attendance before we open up registration to our classmates from nearby years.

It's easy to register, all the instructions are at the link on the left side. The video showing the entire Class of 1973 can be seen by clicking on the picture on the right.

Hope to see you there!

Wordle And Golf
Just in case you didn't understand the concept of my Wordle golf tournament, you can look at the scorecard by clicking the link at the lower left. If you want to join the next one, I will probably start another one on April 1st. Don't look there if you haven't done your Wordle yet because today's word might be there.

James Charles (Jim) Allen  1943 - 2023
Jim passed peacefully on February 8th, at the age of 79, in California. He is survived by his two children, Deborah and Darren of Florida, his sister Carole (Neil pre-deceased), his brother, Albert (Sandy pre-deceased), his
grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

im was born and raised in Montreal. Growing up he loved to play sidewalk hockey. He was always the goaltender. In the early 60's, the Allen family moved to Two Mountains where Jim attended Lake of Two Mountains High School. It was there that he met his future wife Marilyn Riley (pre-deceased). Jim got involved in football (The Two Mountains Hawks) coached by Louis Fournier. He also loved fishing and golfing. His dream was to pursue a career in golf. He got a start on the St. Eustache sur-le-lac golf course as a Club Captain under Gerry Proulx. His passion for golf would later take him to Puerto Rico when he became the Club Captain at the Dorado Hilton Hotel. Jim and his family spent many years in Boston when the children were growing up. Other jobs that Jim took on were working at the Hilton Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal and later he worked many years in seafood distribution.

Jim, you did it your way. God Bless vou R.I.P

There will be a memorial service on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at 2 pm at All Saints Church, 248 18th, avenue, Deux-Montagnes. A reception will follow the service. In lieu of flowers contributions in his memory, can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or a charity of your choice.

Are you are Wordle fan and do you like golf? Better still have you ever dreamed of breaking par on a golf course? I have been doing the New York Times Wordle for over a year now and I when when I solve it in less than 4 tries, I consider it like a birdie in golf. That gave me an idea that I should keep score over 18 consecutive days to see if I could break par. If you want to try it out with me, just send me an e-mail or FB message using the share function of the NY Times. I was going to make it a little competition for a tooney but it's too easy to cheat so this will be just a friendly competition. The first hole will be played on March 1st, which will be puzzle #620 and the last hole will therefore be March 18th. The results will be posted every day at this link )or the picture on the right) and you will see where you stand in the competition.
If you see this anywhere else, remember that it was my idea. When you see your name on the scoreboard with an asterisk, it's because you are playing in hard mode. That means that in settings (the cog wheel), you have toggle hard mode which is that any revealed hints must be used in subsequent guesses. I recommend Hard Mode because it sometimes prevents you from guessing a word that cannot be the answer because you have omitted a letter that is already confirmed in the solution. I will know if you are playing hard mode by the asterisk in your share. So let me know if you want to try this experiment and I will add your name to the scorecard. If you miss a day however, I will have to give you a 7 for that day.

Only 123 Days to the 50 Year L.T.M. Reunion
Time sure flies when organizing the event of the century. We are now taking payment for the Class of 73 students in order to reserve one of the limited spots for our reunion on June 23rd and 24th. We are still looking for some MIA's and waiting for some answers from some people we have contacted. To check out who we are still looking for, check out the video here. Also, you can always see the status of the event with the link to the website on the left of this page. Get your tickets soon, as we are opening up to the class of 72 and 74 on April 1st.

Beverly Maynard - 1933-2023

From the Montreal Gazette: Beverly (Bev), passed away peacefully on January 25, 2023 in Quebec City, under the loving care of her daughter, Lynn, her partner, Simon, and the incredible staff of the palliative ward of Hôpital St-François d'Assise. A fighter throughout her life, this last battle, at the age of 89, was one she was too tired to combat.

Bev was married to Robert (Bob), who passed away in 1996. Since then, she has been surrounded by her son Bruce John, and daughters, Lynn Ann (Simon Duchesne) and Trudy Elizabeth (David Cowie), together with her seven beloved grandchildren, Amanda, Chahaya (Guillaume), Kathleen (Alexandre), Robert (Romely), Sarah (Alexime), Jalani and Kian. She is survived by her younger sister, Veronica (Vern). Her dear sister-in-law, Marjorie, her husband Mike and their son Mark have also played an enormous role in Bev's life, as well as her very dear friends, Gisele (Eric), Lucille, Ronald, and Julie, amongst many more.

The funeral will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at Holy Family church in Deux-Montagnes. Visitation with family will be held at 10:00 a.m. in the church, where the mass will follow at 11:00 a.m. Afterward, interment at the St-Agapit Cemetery will be held for those wishing to attend, followed by a reception at Goyer Funeral Home in Ste-Marthe-sur-le-Lac: 3150 chemin d'Oka.Under the direction of: Complexe Funéraire Goyer

For a more detailed obituary and to sign the guestbook please click here.

Patricia White-McDonough

From the obituary of Patricia White - McDonough. Our mother, grandmother, and great grandmother at the age of 95 on January 2nd, 2023, in Barrie, Ontario. We wish to thank the staff at Owen Hill Community for the care, love and attention they provided while she was with them. Known as PAT to her friends and family, she was born in Maniwaki, Quebec on October 5, 1927, to Verna White and was the youngest of five children.

She was married in Montreal and raised her family in Deux-Montagnes, Quebec, before moving to Barrie in her later years, to be closer to her children. Pat was proceeded in death by her husband Thomas W. McDonough and is survived by her children, Thomas Jr. of Florida, Vickie of Arizona, Norman of Alberta, Rosemary of Quebec, Paul of Ontario, and Kelly of Ontario. Along with 13 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Patricia enjoyed music and singing, travelling, babysitting, and cooking at family gatherings. She loved her family dearly and although she will be missed, we know that she is in a far better place with her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Click here to view her online obituary

Tracie Ellen McLean, August 20, 1964 - January 6, 2023

A loving daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, Tracie, passed away unexpectedly in her sleep. Tracie is predeceased by her parents, Bob and Kay, and close family friend Bev. Survived by sister Kerrie (Eric); brother Andrew (Terri); nieces and nephews Emily, Kyle, Brady, Evan, Amy and Wilson; as well as many family members and friends in the UK, Australia, and across Canada.

Tracie will be missed by her colleagues at Delta City Hall, as well as many she worked with at Canadian Airlines.

A celebration of Tracie's life will be held on February 25th at 2pm at Shannon Hall in the Cloverdale fairgrounds.

To view her online obituary, please click here.

Nick Giannias - 1972-2023

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Mr. Nicolaos Giannias, on January 25, 2023, at the age of 50.

He leaves to mourn his wife Vasiliki Stassos, his father Periclis, his mother-in-law and father-in-law Christina and Nikiforos Stassos as well as his sister-in-law Nia Stassos. He will also be deeply missed by many relatives and friends including his dog Squirt who he treasured.

Nick played hockey with the Laval Teachers Hockey Club since 1993 and will be missed by all his team mates.

The family will receive condolences on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 from 3 pm to 9 pm at The Yves Légaré Complexe Funéraire, 1350 Autoroute 13, Laval. A funeral service will be held on Thursday February 2, 2023 at 11:00 am at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Laval, 4865 Chemin du souvenir, Laval.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the doctors and nurses at the Institut Neurologique de Montréal for their wonderful support and care.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Cedars Memorial Foundation online or by phone (514) 656-6662 or The Montreal Neuro Institut online or by phone(514)398-1958 in his memory. Click here to view his online obituary.

Score For The Cure Raises Record Amount

The 13th Annual SFTC Ball Hockey Tournament was held on Saturday, January 28th, at the Klimas Recreation Center. It's main objective is to raise money for Cancer research at the MUHC. At the end of the day, $4,800 was raised by the 6 team entry fee, donations for food and beverages and a raffle. Once the the amount was announced, a citizen rounded up the amount to $5,000.

In the end, one team got the bragging rights of being champions, but the real winner was Cancer research. As Dan Klimas, originator of the Drive for the Cure Golf Tournament and its offshoot the Score for the Cure, puts it: Once again it shows how the Two Mountains community comes together to support all causes, groups or organizations. The spirit and commitment of our citizens and community both from near and far, our roots and values are unique to Two Mountains, this set of uniqueness has made the result of the tournament a secondary thought and the true winner of the day was our community and more importantly: Research into cancer wins the day.

A video of the event can be seen by clicking the image on the right. For pictures, you can use this link. Thanks to all participants, spectators and volunteers.

Optical Illusion on my Front Page

Many people have told me about the picture of the skating rink on the lake on my front page and how it looks like it's sticking out of the snow. It a very common optical illusion that your brain is used to having things lit from above. If you look below, the left side picture looks strange only because the sun is shining from the bottom. The one of the right is actually upside down, but the sun now shines from the top.

Score For the Cure Ball Hockey Tournament - Saturday January 28th

The 13th annual Score for the Cure Ball Hockey tournament will be played this year to raise funds for Cancer research. The action starts at 8:30am goes on all day with 7 teams vying for bragging rights in a double elimination round robin. The entry to the Klimas Recreation Centre is free and is located at 254 Regent Strret in Two Mountains, Click here for the map.

Beverages and food will be available on a donation basis.

There will also be multiple raffles for gift certificates and a pair of tickets to a Habs vs. Sens game in the Red section. This fundraiser is in association with the Dan Klimas Drive for the Cure which has raised well over 1.25 million dollars over the past 21 years. This year's tournament will take place at the Rosemère Fontainebleau Golf Club on Thursday, June 29th.

Click here for a video of a past tournament.

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