Students find ways to enjoy their freedom during the summer

Natalie Bercovici

July 2012

Imagine being on a sandy beach, under the dazzling sun, your eyes glazing over an expanse of blue glistening refreshing water. A lei encircles your neck.

Okay, you can stop dreaming. You are not in Hawaii. This is about children having the time of their lives for two weeks on a sandy beach at Trail’s End Camp in Vendee, Quebec.

Campers are at the water’s edge and some are preparing for kayaking, boating, or fishing. Canada Day was at the top of the list of countries to celebrate on theme days. They will try their hand at rock climbing and obstacle courses, they will hike and go on overnight camping trips. Chilly nights are host to campfires roasting corn, toasting marshmallows and making s’mores with sing-a-longs and camaraderie.

In Grenville-sur-la-rouge, Amy Molson Camp is nestled on beautiful rolling hills with 72 hectares of woods. An inviting pool encourages children to learn to swim, dive or just splash around. A waterfront with docks and boats herald water activities and campers explore nature lore along the trails. Basketball, volleyball courts, sports field, recreation hall and special events such as International Day, round out the activities. The list is endless!

Children make lifelong friends at camp. Photos courtesy of Generations Foundation

Since the beginning of the millennium, Generations Foundation and generous individuals have offered disadvantaged parents the opportunity to send their children to sleep-away summer camp.

Congratulations to graduate students and schools, recipients of the Generations Foundation Citizenship and Community awards of a plaque and laptop computer: Vanessa Eustace of St. Gabriel Elementary, Nancy Thi Nguyen and Angus Stewart of Dalkeith Elementary and Veronica Odracci and Natalie Fazio of Nesbitt Elementary School. Other students in the Commission Scolaire and English Montreal school boards will receive similar awards.

The award encourages the students celebrate their diversity and become a positive influence.

Natalie Bercovici

July 2012

Many people think that Sun Youth is busiest during the holidays. They might be surprised to discover how active we are during the summer, with a host of activities and summer food to collect.

Sun Youth raises funds for its sports and recreation program, including summer and day camps. Because many children who take part in these activities are from underprivileged backgrounds, the organization offers a subsidy program to help families pay the fees. As well, demand is high for the emergency food bank, though donations are higher during the holiday season.

Thanks for federal and provincial grants, Sun Youth is able to hire students during the summer. Of the 34 members of the bike patrol, four are teens who work from 20 to 40 hours a week, alongside experienced patrollers. Students also work as day- and summer-camp counsellors.

Sun Youth is participating in the Valorisation Jeunesse Place à la relève, a program aimed at facilitating access to summer jobs and paid internships for youth, particularly those from visible minorities, living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods of Montreal. Five candidates are taking part in the program at Sun Youth this summer.

Marriage, to a person or a job, has challenges

Natalie Bercovici

June 2012

Marriage is alive and well in Montreal. Good weather arrived early in May and to our delight, many brides and grooms were at the Old Port with their entourage of family and friends.

This is a lovely sight to behold, and couples should not be afraid of marriage if they have confidence in their spouses. However, the words in the song, “Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage” came to mind from a recent incident in the Old Port when a horse was spooked and bolted with the carriage, causing injury to a passenger.

A separation or divorce might occur when a spouse explores “greener pastures” or there are unresolved issues. Those who live together might also split up, sometimes leaving children in an uncomfortable position. Insecure and destabilized, the children may go back and forth from mother to father. Issues build and these children begin to act out at home and school. If they feel some cohesion, hopefully, they will overcome their fears.

HAPPY 50th ANNIVERSARY to Adrian and Natalie! Photo courtesy of Generations Foundation

If not, they may need support from family, school officials and social workers.

Generations Foundation works with these professionals in several areas. We address food insecurity daily for about 6,500 schoolchildren. Teamwork and other social skills are learned at summer camp, where we send hundreds of children to enjoy the summer and build skills for the future.

From the early years to graduation and beyond, Generations finds ways to help out.

Call 514-933-8585 to help a child succeed.

Nicolas Carpentier

June 2012

If there is such a thing as being married to your job, Sun Youth’s Tommy Kulczyk is the perfect example. Kulczyk, assistant to the executive vice-president and director of emergency Services, celebrated 30 years of community service on May 1.

Kulczyk was introduced to Sun Youth when he began playing hockey for the organization in 1978. A few years later, while he was studying administration at university, Sid Stevens invited him to come work with him for the summer months.

Tommy Kulczyk celebrates 30 years with Sun Youth. Photo: Nicolas Carpentier

“I thought it would only be a summer job but, 30 years later, I’m still here,” Kulczyk says. Because of his exceptional creativity, organizational and communication skills, he became a well-known and respected figure at Sun Youth.

He says Sun Youth is still around because of the organization’s capacity to evolve and to adapt. “We’re not smarter than anybody else. We listen, we learn and we put programs in place to address specific issues that are not taken care of.”

He and his wife of 30 years have two daughters, Vanessa and Éliane.

How does he juggle job and family? “You have to be with a great partner, someone who’s understanding and who believes in what you’re doing,” he says. “I never missed a meeting with the teachers, never missed a medical appointment with my children or one of their gymnastics competitions.

“I’m lucky to have two families: I have my first family at home and a second family at Sun Youth.”

Charity often starts with friendships

Natalie Bercovici

April 2012

After her husband’s passing, a friend of 30 years left Montreal to join her sister and sister’s family. Her son stayed in Montreal, having established friends and a promising career.

My friend calls when she comes to town and although our friendship is no longer predominant in our lives, we arrange to have dinner together each time she comes to Montreal and call each other from time to time. We are reminded of the good times we had with our families.

Another good friendship developed during high school, but we were distant for a long time when we found our Prince Charmings and moved in separate circles. Our friendship is periodically renewed and is equally important although we both do not have a lot of free time. Each summer my husband and I attend a reunion to catch up with school chums.

Family and friends are important assets. We must do all we can to cherish them. We have made many friends through Generations Foundation, with whom we connect as often as possible.

Natalie Bercovici (second from left) with her school chums at a recent reunion. Photo courtesy of Natalie Bercovici

I have named Trails End Camp and Amy Molson Camp “diamonds in the rough.” At summer camp in the country, children can forget their troubles and can be children while at the same time they learn, face new challenges and make new friends. The friends they already have can share fun times together at the same camp.

Summer camp can cement relationships; it becomes a home away from home. Friends are made naturally and with ease while building kinship.

Memories are born at camp, which children carry throughout their lives.

If you would like to help feed a hungry child in the next few months or send a child to summer camp in July and August, call to join us at the Scotiabank Charity Challenge April 29 for the five-kilometre walk or 21-km run. Reserve early for Same Time Next Year, Generations Foundation’s theatre evening, May 2. 514-933-8585

Nicolas Carpentier

Friends are very important to Sun Youth. The organization wouldn’t exist if not for a group of friends who, in 1954, decided to create their own community group to keep themselves busy and out of trouble. Since then, Sun Youth has grown to what it is today thanks to the precious help of its many friends, donors and volunteers.

Sun Youth rewards friends for their loyalty. Such a friend is Lyle McGuigan, an 80-year-old man who has been volunteering at Sun Youth for more than 30 years. His wish was to see the Montreal Canadiens play. Thanks to a donor who graciously gave tickets and the help of a volunteer to accompany him, Lyle saw the Habs in action against the Toronto Maple Leafs March 3.

Although the Canadiens didn’t win, Lyle very much enjoyed the game and tour of the Bell Centre.

“They took very good care of me and we had very nice seats,” Lyle said. “After the game, they took me home and I slept like a baby!”

If you have tickets for an event and can’t use them, why not give them to Sun Youth? 514-842-6822.

Here at Sun Youth

Nicolas Carpentier

November 2011

In 2004, Sun Youth celebrated its 50th anniversary. The organization entered the new millennium by creating its own home on the Internet, sunyouthorg.com

Donors and users were given a new way to learn about the organization and its services, a tool that complemented brochures, pamphlets and other written material. In 2011, Sun Youth is entering the new decade with a redesigned website.

On November 1, as with every year at the approach of the holiday season, Sun Youth launched its winter campaign to remind the public and businesses that the organization is in great need of assistance to provide underprivileged Montrealers with comfort.

Between December 18 and 24, 18,000 people will receive holiday hampers from the organization.

Sun Youth used this opportunity to unveil its new identity, including a new website, logo, stationery, integrated advertising campaign and more. It was the brainchild of Écorce atelier créatif, a young agency specializing in brand identity and interactive strategies.

Sun Youth invites Senior Times readers to visit the new site to learn more about the organization and to make a donation.

Here at Sun Youth

Nicolas Carpentier

October 2011

The collaboration between Sun Youth and the senior times goes back to the inception of the newspaper 25 years ago.

Sun Youth itself started as a (handwritten) newspaper in 1954.

Co-founder Sid Stevens, Sun Youth’s executive vice-president, spoke recently about the longtime relationship that exists between the organization and the senior times.

Sun Youth began collaborating with the newspaper by writing a monthly column, penned by Stevens himself.

“They were the first to offer Sun Youth free columns in their paper and, in doing so, give a voice to our organization. Since then, other newspapers have come on board, but the senior times were pioneers in setting the pace. We have always appreciated that and never forgotten that. Whenever we needed additional support, they were always there for us,” Stevens says.

“We have an aging population. In fact, one of every four Quebecers is a senior. A lot of people are reading the senior times.”

Stevens likes to call them “recycled teenagers.”

“They are very active and very much involved in the community. A lot of readers are also donors to Sun Youth or stated supporting Sun Youth was a result of reading our message in the senior times,” he says.

Stevens calls it a first-class newspaper, with its larger print and high-quality pictures.

“For older people like myself, it’s an easy read.”

In a world inundated with all sorts of electronic media, Stevens thinks there is still room for old-fashioned printed newspapers.

“Every morning when I wake up, I have to look at a newspaper. In the evening, I look at the paper again to see what I might have missed. Without it, I feel lost!” Stevens joins the rest of the Sun Youth staff and management to wish the senior times a long life. “I hope they continue for many years,” he says, “and I’d like to see the paper published twice a month!”

Editor’s note: The column was called Sid Stevens’ Notebook and he shared many helpful safety tips and did the community a great service. The editor remembers he called seniors “experienced Canadians” even before he called them “recycled teenagers.”

Charities do their part for the health of people and the Earth

Natalie Bercovici

July 2011

It is more widely acknowledged than ever before that the environ- ment factor dramatically affects an individual’s outcome in life.

Generations Foundation’s Citizenship and Community Awards of laptop computers in June for elementary students and in March for high-school students are tools to help promote education.

A stay of two weeks at summer camp in the country will alter a child’s life. Ninety-five per cent of these campers live below the poverty line. Many live in foster homes. Impoverished parents often stay the course even though they themselves have experienced unfavourable childhoods.

A two-week stay at summer camp can alter a child’s life. Photo courtesy of Generations Foundation

Generations Foundation provides an excellent opportunity for children to develop self-esteem and autonomy at country camp. Camp promotes co-operation and encourages teamwork through sports and games. Campers learn nature lore, skills in hebertism (tree-top obstacle courses and adventures) and archery.

Programs encourage expression through such arts and crafts as pottery. We are excited about our art contest throughout the summer at Camp Amy Molson and Trail’s End Camp. Winners receive prizes for their artwork in various categories.

Society ultimately benefits from proactive learning for children at a tender, young age.

As “grandma” and “grandpa” to thousands of underprivileged children, Adrian and I enthusiastically support the summer camp experience for children.

Info: generationsfoundation.com 514-933-8585.

Nicolas Carpentier

June 11 was a very special day for Sun Youth – the fifth annual recycled bike distribution, in collaboration with Houle Toyota Scion.

Michel Houle started the program in 2006 because he wanted to give back to the community and allow underprivileged families to get a chance to enjoy one of summer’s most popular activities: riding a bicycle.

A fleet of bikes await new homes, part of Recyc-Vélo. Photo: Nicolas Carpentier

More than 2,100 bicycles have been donated to families in need through Recyc-Vélo. The bikes are collected from the public in November, then geared up during the winter by the participants of a social reintegration program run by SOS Vélo. More than 500 bikes were reconditioned this year.

A new partner that came onboard this year is Fondation Bon Départ (Canadian Tire Jumpstart). They donated 300 bike helmets.

“It is also a concrete gesture in terms of environment and health. With the ever-increasing gas prices, I’m sure we will see a lot of parents trading their car for a bicycle to go for a stroll with their children,” says Tommy Kulczyk, assistant to the executive vice-president and director of Sun Youth’s emergency services.

Charities share the gifts of music, dance and new friends

Share the Warmth: Judy Stevens

Share the Warmth’s youth programs—including youth group, music and tutoring—gets a boost June 8 with its seventh annual golf tournament.

Our youth will respond with an end-of-season concert June 10, where those invited got to see the children perform on keyboard and guitar. The youth group presented an art exhibition at the concert.

Youth play a concert at Share the Warmth last year. Introducing kids to music is a way to give back. Photo courtesy of Share the Warmth

Introducing children to music is another way of giving back. For some, it is their only vehicle to express themselves.

One of the youngsters in the youth group asked the co-ordinator: “Who is your parole officer?”

In that one question, we understood why we have a youth group, why animators and volunteers become role models, and why we offer music, tutoring and scholarship programs.

sharethewarmth.ca , 514-933-5599.

Here at Sun Youth: Nicolas Carpentier

In the summer of 2009, Sun Youth created a program to introduce children to music.

The public was asked to donate used musical instruments. They offered guitars, keyboards and drum parts. The first to benefit from this program were the Sun Youth Day Camp children. Every summer, the young campers receive an active introduction to music, as they get their hands on the various instruments in the music room, with a focus on percussion.

Dave Rizk teaches guitar. (Photo by Nicolas Carpentier)

Head teacher Dave Rizk gives weekly individual and group lessons to older children (up to 17 years old). The program concentrates on bass guitar, but future plans include guitar, drums and piano lessons. Dave’s ultimate goal is to form jazz combos and provide a solid background for young people who wish to pursue their musical studies at the CEGEP level and beyond.

His dream is to form a big band that would take part in regional and national competitions to provide a positive outlet for teenagers at risk. It’s also sure to give them a life-changing experience. sunyouthorg.com , 514-842-6822.

Generations: Natalie Bercovici

When I think of my father, Louis, I smile and feel his warmth.

He was happy, even more so when he broke into an impromptu display of tap dance. He often lamented about various musical contemporaries, the Nicholas Brothers, Sophie Tucker, Louis Armstrong and the like. Music was in his genes, though not manifested like his grandfather’s, who was a cantor. At 13, my father toured with the Johnny Jones troupe and sometimes on his own.

He captured that spark, which was music, that thread of joy, which continued throughout his life even though he later embarked on a different career.

At summer camp a similar spark is ignited that can launch the future dreams of many children. As a camper, a child will enhance his or her life in new challenges, friends and lasting experiences. Generations Foundation is accommodating requests for counsellors- in-training in addition to hundreds of regular campers.

Campers progress without prodding or pushing. They either like the experience or they do not, but 99 per cent of them do! Generations Foundation remains committed to the country camp experience and reaches out to children to help them find their niche, whether a hobby, like my dad, or a career.

Visit generationsfoundation.com or call 514-933-8585.

Food, milk and an afternoon of bowling keep volunteers on their toes

Generations: Natalie Bercovici

May, 2011

I recall as a child in grade school eyeing the milk bottles over in the corner of the classroom as I waited with dire thirst for the moment to savour a bottle of soothing and refreshing milk.

I often did not have any patience to sit down to eat breakfast, as food was not a priority for me. I was the last of four children and my mother was an excellent self-taught cook by the time I was born, so no one starved in our family. Food was readily available. I simply did not feel like eating early in the morning. Once or twice, I fainted at my desk!

As a mother and grandmother, I am ecstatic to be part of the Generations Foundation family, an organization dedicated to “equalling the playing field” to ensure that children are eating a proper breakfast or a hot lunch at school along with a generous portion of milk. Concerned individuals are astonished to learn that even in Montreal, children are going to school hungry.

Due to difficult economic times, the “nouveau pauvre” or the middle-class are experiencing problems not apparent at first glance. A meal supplied by Generations Foundation may be the only one of the day because access to government sponsored meals are limited.

generationsfoundation.com, 514-933-8585

Share the Warmth: Judy Stevens

It’s time for Share the Warmth’s Table of Hope, where you can taste the finest from Montreal’s culinary community.

The event takes place at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel and features entertainment, a silent auction and prize table, plus an after-hours nightclub.

Monday, May 9, at 6:30 pm (patron’s cocktail 5pm). Tickets are $125, general admission, and $200 including the patron’s cocktail party). Visit tableofhope.ca or call 514-933-5599 for information or to buy tickets.

Next up is the Sam Pelc Scholarship Awards celebration on Friday, June 3.

So far, we have 34 scholarship students and will be welcoming 10 new students into the program. Each student receives $500 a year for educational needs.

These students will receive funding for each of their high school years as long as they keep their grades at an acceptable level.

All students receive the award after graduating Grade 6. A contract is signed between the parent, student and Share the Warmth in which all parties agree that the student will go for tutoring if his or her grades slip.

Here at Sun Youth: Nicolas Carpentier

Last month, Sun Youth organized an event for its regular volunteers: an afternoon of bowling.

After a delicious buffet and dessert, the many Sun Youth volunteers took on the alleys of Darling Bowling in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, all hoping to bowl a 300 game. No one managed to reach that score, but these volunteers are all winners!

Sun Youth would not have become what it is without their involvement.

It would never have existed had it not been for co-founders Earl De La Perralle and Sid Stevens, who, in 1954, used their spare time to create a handwritten newspaper to raise profits for organizing sports activities and purchasing equipment for youth in their neighbourhood.

“The success of Sun Youth Organization, and many other organizations, hinges on the support we receive from volunteers,” Stevens says. “It’s impossible to put a dollar figure on the amount of time that volunteers contribute every year.”

The best way to ensure these volunteers stay on board is to take good care of them. This was the ultimate goal of the bowling activity. In addition to door prizes and gifts for the best bowlers, they had the afternoon off, a well-deserved reward for all their hard work!

Bike Man wants to know about the young heroes in your neighbourhood

Nicolas Carpentier

March, 2011

The negative image of youth often portrayed through the media is usually the result of the actions of a handful of these young people.

At Sun Youth, we strongly believe there are a lot of good deeds performed by youth everyday that go unnoticed, so does an anonymous donor known only as Bike Man or Mr. Spokes. Twenty-seven years ago, he approached Sun Youth to see how he could help highlight the positive contribution of children to our society. From his childhood in a very modest immigrant family, he remembered the joy he felt when he received his first bicycle after waiting many years for it. It wasn't a new bike by any means but at least, it was his own.

These bikes need homes. Nominate a deserving kid before March 31 Photo: Nicolas Carpentier

Several years later, now a successful businessman (with enough money to buy the bicycle factory if he wanted to), he thought that his birthday would be the perfect opportunity to show the world exceptional youths who could be role models for their peers. For him, what better way to reward these amazing children than with a brand new bicycle, especially as his own birthday is in the spring. What do you give someone who has everything? The smile on their faces when presented with a new bike would be the perfect birthday gift for him.

With spring approaching, Sun Youth is looking for the perfect birthday gift for Bike Man: deserving candidates between the ages of 2 and 17 years old to be rewarded with a brand new bicycle, safety helmet and bike lock. The organization is looking for children whose actions have had a positive effect on their community or young people who have shown extraordinary courage when facing exceptional circumstances. This call is open to everyone, grandparents, teachers, sports coaches, etc. Sun Youth would like to receive, in writing, the following information: the name of the young person, their age, a little family background and the reason you feel they merit a new bike. Sun Youth needs your name and telephone number so they can contact you for further information. They also need the name and phone number of someone else who knows the child and can provide additional information if needed.

2010 was a record year for Sun Youth: 250 requests were received by the Sun Youth Bicycle Committee. Each of the 83 selected children had a different story. Some saved lives. Some helped others at school or organized projects to help protect the environment. Others did volunteers work with seniors in their community. Over the last 26 years, Mr. Spokes has allowed Sun Youth to distribute more than 1,000 new bikes. Help us make Bike Man's 86th birthday his best ever: Send in the stories of your young heroes.

Send submissions to: Sun Youth - Bicycle Committee, 4251 St. Urbain, Montreal, QC. H2W 1V6, fax (514) 842-5241 or email bicyclettebike@sunyouthorg.com Names of candidates can be submitted no later than March 31, 2011. No candidates will be considered after that date.

There is an application form at sunyouthorg.com under the Events tab. The bicycles will be handed out at a special ceremony in June.

More baskets must be filled to keep up with the rise in food-bank use

Nicolas Carpentier

December, 2010

Despite the rumours of economic recovery that have been heard in the past few months, Sun Youth Organization would like to remind everyone that about 18,000 people will be at its doorstep between December 18 and 24 to obtain provisions for the holidays. They will also be offered new toys for their children.

This huge operation relies on the generosity of donors. Companies and the general public can take part in the Holiday Symphony and give generously, whether it is food or funds, to help the organization deal with the demand during this most crucial time of the year.

Donations collected during the holidays are not only used to supply the Christmas basket campaign. The first three months of the year represent an extremely busy time for Sun Youth and the need is as great, if not greater than those of December. Sun Youth invites families in need to come to its headquarters to register for a Christmas basket from Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, with proof of residence, proof of income and identification cards for everyone in the household.

More than 2,000 families receive assistance every month from the emergency food bank.

Members of the Gurudwara Sahib Greater Montreal Sikh Temple in D.D.O. donated about 10,000 non-perishable food items to the Sun Youth food bank. Photo: Nicolas Carpentier

A recent study by Food Banks Canada indicated that over the last two years, food bank use in Canada has risen by 28 per cent.

In Montreal, there has been a 22-per-cent increase in demand since 2009. The number of children using food banks has gone up 35 per cent.

Meanwhile, donors are still affected by the financial uncertainty that persists for many of them. Many major supporters of Sun Youth have decreased their annual financial contribution and some have decided to delay their support until their situation improves.

“We have to work harder and harder to receive the financial support that we require to assist the many people knocking at our doors,” says Tommy Kulczyk of Sun Youth.

“We had to establish new partnerships to ensure that we get the proper funding to help all those in need. The last two years have been very hard for our organization but we are confident that things will get better in 2011, for us, for our donors and for our clientele as well.”

If you would like to organize a food drive or collection, contact Sun Youth at 514-842-6822 for information and to obtain posters and money banks. Donations can be brought to 4251 St. Urbain and pickups can be arranged for larger donations.

Hornets’ coach remembered for his big heart

Nicolas Carpentier

November, 2010

George Miller, or Coach George, as some of us used to call him, got involved with Sun Youth about 12 years ago as an assistant coach to the Hornets midget football team, alongside head coach and Sun Youth co-founder Earl De La Perralle.

The Sun Youth Hornets were glad to have a man of his experience onboard. Before joining Sun Youth, George had been coaching the Greenfield Park Packers football team and eventually became its president.

Six years ago, George became involved with the North Shore Mustangs, coaching their junior team. But he never forgot his friends and remained close to the Sun Youth Hornets. He eventually returned to Sun Youth as an assistant coach.

Coach George Miller. Photo: QMFL

George was a pillar of the Quebec Midget Football League, where he was director and later president of the league and a member of the executive.

George and his friends from the Quebec Midget Football League laid the foundations of midget football in Quebec, becoming its biggest defenders.

One thing comes to mind when we think about George: his big heart.

Unfortunately, his heart stopped beating on Sept. 26 leaving a big gap here at Sun Youth. We all remember him as someone who would do anything for a friend. Sometimes with his grumpiness, he could also be intransigent when it was time to defend the principles in which he believed. He was confident and honest and sensitive to the needs of the weakest and poorest.

He gathered anecdotes on football and on life in general, which he shared with friends on and off the football fields.

George left us with a heritage as big as his heart. We are sad that he left us, but we will forever remember his passage in our lives. From all of us here at Sun Youth, farewell coach George. We will miss you dearly.

‘You don’t have to be a Jew to be a mensch,’ author posits

Nicolas Carpentier

October, 2010

The word “menschen” is the plural of mensch: a Yiddish word that means a sensible, mature, responsible person.

Last month, the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors had its fair share of menschen gathered for the launch of Honourable Menschen II, the brainchild of author Doreen Glazer.

Glazer retired 12 years ago from a career in adult education and started taking arts and crafts courses at the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors. She got to know other members of the centre – many older than herself and some of them older than 100. She was fascinated to see how, despite their venerable age, these people were so productive. She worried that if their life stories were not recorded, no one would know how valuable their contribution had been.

Sun Youth’s Sid Stevens and Father John Emmet Walsh are featured in a book by Doreen Glazer

The saying goes: If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. And so she appointed herself to develop a book featuring members of the Jewish community. The cards were laid out. All she needed was a title.

She had what she describes as a “light bulb moment” and came up with Honourable Menschen.

“I think God gave me the title,” she said at the book launch.

In 2006, she formed a committee to select candidates. The first three people featured were part of the arts and crafts courses at the Cummings Centre. The committee met regularly, suggesting candidates and doing extensive research. What came out of it was a collection of interviews and tributes. The response was overwhelmingly positive and the book was reprinted. The reprint sold out.

Honourable Menschen is a non-profit project; everyone involved volunteers. The money raised through sales of the books go to the Honourable Menschen Fund at the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors. The fund allows Glazer, 68, and her accomplices to work on the next project.

“One book pays for the next one,” Glazer said. Work for Honourable Menschen II ran from December 2008 to June 2010. For this second iteration of the book, 17 honourable menschen were selected.

Among the group is Sid Stevens, executive vice-president and co-founder of Sun Youth Organization.

Doreen Glazer Photos: Nicolas Carpentier

Father John Emmet Walsh is also featured. Questioned about the selection of a non-Jew for the first time, Glazer said: “You don’t have to be a Jew to be a mensch!” Walsh was pleased with his inclusion: “The tribute of being honoured as a mensch is certainly, in the Jewish community, a high honour. But to be introduced as a Roman-Catholic priest into that kind of category and to be able to share with so many people that I know who are receiving it is even more gratifying.

“Rabbi Allan Langner (another honourable menschen) and I go way back. In fact, I was one of the speakers at his 50th anniversary as a rabbi recently and so, when you’re in that kind of a group of people and understand the respect they have for the other people who have been recognized, it’s 17 times the honour.”

Walsh recently retired, but continues a radio show on CJAD on Sundays from 6pm to 7pm.

Honourable Menschen II can be purchased at the Cummings boutique, 5700 Westbury, for $20. Glazer can be reached at glazerl@videotron.ca.

Summer camp is not just for kids anymore

Nicolas Carpentier

September, 2010

For more than 20 years, the Sun Youth summer camp in l’Annonciation, in the heart of the Laurentians, has been welcoming children for fun and adventures in the great outdoors.

Hundreds enjoy the premises of the camp: 20 hectares of vast, wooded and groomed areas equipped with such modern facilities as a gymnasium, cafeteria, recreation hall and more.

Many outdoors activities are offered, including water sports on a lake with a natural sand beach. Kind of makes you wish you were a kid again.

Good news: The Sun Youth summer camp is also available to the young at heart, offering one-week camp sessions to those 55 years and older for a very moderate price. A cabin called the House of Wisdom accommodates up to 12 people in six single rooms and three doubles. It has a kitchen, dining room, living room, two terraces and an old-time woodstove.

Telling a friend to go jump in a lake can be an invitation to relaxation at summer camp. Photo courtesy of Sun Youth

The seniors who attended camp this summer enjoyed a wide variety of activities. They were masters of their time, so they could do whatever they felt like doing. Some went on daily bike rides on the P’tit Train du Nord cycle path with an average 18 kilometres a day. Some played tennis, horse shoes and and pétanque (bocce).

Some joined activities and had meals with the 6-to-8-year-olds at the camp.

The lake was popular, with many seniors swimming and canoeing while others contemplated nature and kept on the lookout for birds, deer and other wildlife. The camp has an arts and crafts studio and a shopping expedition to the nearby village was arranged.

All senior campers said they want to go back next year. It’s true that Mother Nature was on their side with beautiful weather, but, rain or shine, it’s always nice to be away from the city in an enchanting setting. For information on attending next year’s camp, contact camp director Johanne Saltarelli, 514-842-6822, camp@sunyouthorg.com. The House of Wisdom can be used in winter for group outings.

Former police director has a message for Montrealers: Enjoy life

Nicolas Carpentier

July, 2010

On June 9, 2010, Sun Youth’s 34 bike patrollers were sworn in at a ceremony held in the organization’s gymnasium. Many distinguished guests attended, including Montreal Police director Yvan Delorme.

It was his last appearance at a public function before he retires in September. He was kind enough to grant me a few minutes of his time. The following excerpts from the interview have been translated from French.

What has been your path with the Montreal Police Service?

I began serving as a police officer in 1983, and have held almost all administrative and operational functions.

I was in uniform and I worked on various investigations: 23 different functions in 27 years with the Montreal Police. I did just about everything, but the highlight was being an undercover agent. I’ve infiltrated all sorts of areas, with biker gangs involved with drugs and others. Also, I was team leader for the Wolverine Squad in 1995.

Sun Youth and the SPVM have been partners for a long time. Do you think this relationship has been beneficial?

It was and will continue to be beneficial. We know Sun Youth is working on so many levels in Montreal, both in terms of crime prevention, to assist in apprehending criminals who could reoffend and victimize others. Such activities as the bike patrol, help to raise the level of security in Montreal.

Montreal Police chief Yvan Delorme is flanked by Sun Youth’s Sid Stevens (left) and Helio Galego, director of crime prevention and victim services. Photo: Nicolas Carpentier

When you retire, will you continue to be involved with the Christmas basket distribution?

Certainly! Beyond the responsibility of a director, there are the acquaintances and friends I have at Sun Youth; all good people who have their hearts in the right place. ... I will not let them down.

How will you spend your time the rest of the year?

I have many passions: aviation, sailing, motorcycle, construction, woodworking. ... I have many things to do. Traveling, taking care of my personal life, which I have overlooked in the past 27 years so I could fulfill my duties as a police officer.

I will also be able to take care of the people around me that I neglected in recent years, like my parents, who are both in their 80s. I want to take care of my parents and give them back what they gave me during my youth.

Do you have a message to seniors? It is to enjoy life. That’s what I always told my parents: Enjoy all the activities available in Montreal.

It is a safe city even if sometimes there are people who feel a sense of insecurity. The police are everywhere on the island of Montreal and in the midst of all the events, we are there to ensure that security.

When you reach a venerable age and you have worked all your life, you have to be able to enjoy this life. I am so sorry for those who deprive themselves because they feel insecure.

Enjoy life, go to restaurants, go see plays, go to festivals. Enjoy this beautiful city that is Montreal.

Bike patrollers are one spoke in the wheel of public safety

Nicolas Carpentier

June, 2010

For a 26th consecutive year, the Sun Youth bike patrol will make streets, parks, playgrounds and bike paths safer by acting as the eyes and the ears of the Montreal Police Service.

Bike-patrol activities start with the official swearing-in ceremony on June 9. Until Aug. 13, 34 patrollers will work in collaboration with 12 SPVM Neighbourhood Police Stations across Montreal Island.

At the helm of the Sun Youth Bike Patrol are Maria-José Raposo, assistant director of crime prevention and bike-patrol co-ordinator, and Niva Beaudoin, the patrol’s assistant co-ordinator.

They are responsible for hiring the many young people who make up the patrol.

Six are Teens on Patrol, a special unit of 14-to-17-year-olds who work in tandem with senior patrollers. Most of the patrollers are students from such educational backgrounds as police tech, criminology and social work. Their desire to work for the improvement of the community is what unites them.

Maria-José Raposo and Niva Beaudoin co-ordinate the bike patrol. Photo: Nicolas Carpentier

Patrollers learn CPR, bike safety techniques and take part in a role-playing activity organized by the police on intervention techniques. Patrollers are equipped with first-aid kits and walkie-talkies to relay information to headquarters and police. Activities scheduled throughout the summer include bicycle safety workshops for children, chiselling operations, sports tournaments (soccer, flag football) with day camps, visits to senior residences and other neighbourhood events.

The Sun Youth Bike Patrol will be present at city sidewalk sales and will conduct a census on cycling offences. The patrol will also work in collaboration with the CN Police, who aim to raise awareness of dangers associated with trespassing on train tracks.

This year, the patrol welcomes two police cadets from Kuujjuak in northern Quebec. Their goal is to get experience working with Montreal police and to create a link between the two communities.

According to Raposo and Beaudoin, the 34 patrollers of the 2010 edition of the Sun Youth Bike Patrol are “very dynamic and extremely motivated.”

These young people are eager to start working for the well being of our community. We wish them the best this summer.

Volunteerism helps everyday worries fade into background

Nicolas Carpentier

May, 2010

Most people know Sun Youth at our headquarters on St. Urbain St., the former Baron-Byng High School, which the organization has occupied since 1991.

Another big part of Sun Youth, unknown to the public, is our warehouse on de Gaspé St.

This is where donated food is stored, sorted and arranged in food hampers.

There is only one regular Sun Youth staff member there, but the organization can count on a faithful team of volunteers.

Léonce Simard has been volunteering at Sun Youth since 1991. Photo: Nicolas Carpentier

One of these volunteers is Léonce Simard, who has been volunteering at the warehouse for 12 years.

His tasks range from unloading trucks full of food to sorting and preparing baskets to be shipped to Sun Youth headquarters for distribution.

Léonce got involved with Sun Youth after he lost his job in 1995. He went back to school for two years to reorient his career, and while pursuing his studies, he discovered Sun Youth.

Léonce says he is proud of the work he does and that it makes him feel good, mentally and physically.

It says it keeps him busy, away from his everyday worries, but it also keeps him in shape. It is a real pleasure, he says, for him to give his time to Sun Youth.

When groups visit to volunteer for a day, he will often show them how the job is done and how to be efficient. After all, he has a lot of experience and has seen volunteers come and go over his many years of service.

We can count on Léonce to be soft-spoken, well mannered and always have a smile on his face.

Sun Youth was founded by volunteers 56 years ago and they work in every sector: Some, like Léonce, help manage and redistribute the great generosity Montrealers show during the year.

Others are responsible for coaching young athletes involved in our Hornets sports teams, while many are directly involved in meeting with the underprivileged clientele to assess their needs.

Léonce is a member of the organization’s Monthly Senior Food Supplement program, where senior citizens living on a fixed income visit the organization once a month to receive a food hamper.

It gives him pride to know he is behind the making of these food baskets that are distributed to his peers monthly.

For more information about volunteer work at Sun Youth or the Monthly Senior Food Supplement program, call 514-842-6822.

Sun Youth mourns loss of seniors club co-founder

Nicolas Carpentier

April, 2010

She was the heart and soul of the Sun Youth Seniors Club. She had been a founding member of the club and was its second president. On February 27, Mary Murphy died at St. Margaret’s home at the age of 84. She will be sadly missed by all.

I spoke to a few people at Sun Youth and asked them to share with me their most precious memories of Mary Murphy.

The first person I spoke to is Tom Stewart, director of the Sun Youth Seniors Club. He had known Mary since he became involved with Sun Youth in the early ’90s.

Stewart recalls that she was very active in those years, co-ordinating seniors who were cooking meals for volunteers during the Christmas basket distribution.

She was also co-ordinating the wrapping and distribution of gifts for children. She was the main force behind the Seniors Club spring and fall bazaars.

She started such social and recreational activities as trips, line dancing and other activities. The Seniors Club was founded to help provide Sun Youth with experienced volunteers and provide activities and a meeting place for seniors.

The thing Stewart remembers most about Mary Murphy is her personality.

Despite a certain temper, she was a very warm and pleasant person and gladly welcomed new people into the club. She was also very firm and had her convictions, he says.

I then spoke to Tommy Kulczyk, assistant to the executive vice-president and director of emergency services.

“She took her role very seriously and her work to heart,” Kulczyk recalls.

Mary Murphy in 2005, at an event honouring Sun Youth volunteers. Photos: Nicolas Carpentier

“She was always making sure that all of the members of the club would be happy for the time they were with the club, during bingo day or other events. She would always take time to invite the Sun Youth employees to the special dinners organized by the club for various holidays. She wanted everyone to come and share with the members of the club. In more than 25 years, I never heard anyone who had anything bad to say about her. I think it’s a good sign. It shows that she did her job well.

“Sun Youth can only exist because of people like Mary Murphy,” Kulczyk says.

“She helped us a great deal throughout the years to be a better organization. She redefined what caring and sharing mean to us. She was faithful to Sun Youth for all her life. She was able to bring something fresh to the Sun Youth Seniors Club and for that, we thank her. She was behind a lot of the activities for which the Seniors Club is famous. These activities allow the club to still be in existence. It’s a great loss for Sun Youth and for everyone who knew her and appreciated her, her family and her friends at the Seniors Club”.

Executive vice-president Sid Stevens relates: “I found Mary to be a good listener, a good talker, a good thinker, a good worker and a great friend for Sun Youth Organization. She was the individual person who put her heart into what she believed in. As the second president of the Seniors Club, she built it up to what it is today. She deserves all the accolades that people could bestow her. She was a very easygoing, soft-spoken, wonderful person. She’ll be sadly missed by everybody. She put more than a quarter of a century into Sun Youth.

“She was here during the difficult times and the good times”.

Finally, I spoke with Marie Cayer, president of the Sun Youth Seniors Club. She will probably miss Mary Murphy the most.

They had been friends for most of their lives, their friendship going back 45 years.

Cayer became president of the Sun Youth Seniors Club when Murphy resigned because of health reasons.

Cayer mentions the countless hours Murphy spent doing volunteer work at Sun Youth.

“She gave body and soul to Sun Youth but it was never enough for her,” she recalls.

“It was very beneficial for her to be here. It helped her get through the toughest periods of her life, like when her daughter Lyse passed away.”

Murphy would do everything to help the other members of the club, but also to assist the organization during various events.

Marie Cayer with the portrait of friend Mary Murphy at the Sun Youth Seniors Club Recreation Hall.

She was responsible for the wrapping and the distribution of toys given to children each Christmas and she helped distribute holiday hampers to people in need.

The thing Cayer will miss most about her friend is the perfect working relationship they had. They never disagreed and were always on the same page and worked the same way.

They fed off each other but were also complimentary, which would allow for more work to be done.

Marie recalls that Mary was “a very interesting and likable person, very sociable. She had a beautiful smile!”

From everyone at Sun Youth, I would like to express our deepest sympathies to Mary’s family and friends. We will never forget her and we will cherish her memory forever. May she rest in peace.

Fire victims' lives rise from the ashes

Nicolas Carpentier

March, 2010

Imagine you’re sleeping tight when suddenly you are awakened by an alarm. It’s too loud to be your alarm clock and you can smell smoke.

You have time to wake your family, but not to grab anything. Within seconds you are out in the cold, in your pyjamas and slippers.

Firefighters arrive with other emergency responders and community organizations. Red Cross and Sun Youth are partnered with the city of Montreal to aid victims in the aftermath of a fire. We have been assisting fire victims since the 1970s.

A Red Cross co-ordinator at the scene alerts Sun Youth that assistance is required. Just as fire victims are awakened by a fire alarm, our emergency workers receive their call to action in similar fashion: The sound of a pager urges them to report to headquarters.

Eric Kingsley has had his share of sleepless nights in his eight years on the Sun Youth Emergency Response Team – most fires happen at night or in the early hours of the morning.

Eric and the Red Cross co-ordinate what sort of assistance is required: clothing, food, medication, etc. Eric might drop by Sun Youth to pick up a few things before getting to the fire scene.

Eric visits the firefighting command post to announce his presence. A registry is kept of everyone on the scene. If a building must be evacuated, a security perimeter is erected and only authorized emergency responders are allowed to cross the lines. Eric then meets the Red Cross co-ordinator inside the fire department’s bus. The bus, where the victims gather to keep warm and meet emergency responders, was a 1970s Sun Youth brainchild.

Eric determines which victims have a place to stay – those who don’t will be put up at a hotel for 72 hours. Victims are given a resource booklet containing valuable information on steps to take in the aftermath of a fire. Material assistance in the form of vouchers and transportation to temporary shelters is offered by Sun Youth once all the paperwork has been filled in on the bus. The most common assistance provided is clothing; most victims flee their home without any warm clothing.

The following morning, Sun Youth contacts each victim to make the next steps as smooth as possible. The victims must make an appointment with the Montreal Housing Bureau to start the process of finding a new home. Once they are settled, they may visit Sun Youth to obtain household accessories.

Up to 24 per cent of Montrealers don’t have household insurance that protects against fire.

Eric’s advice: Insurance won’t bring back lost belongings with sentimental value, but it will save you tons of headaches in the process of returning to a normal life.

Sun Youth’s Emergency Response Team responded to 269 calls in 2009, an average of one fire every 36 hours. In total, 1,764 people were assisted. Info: 514-842-6822.

Quake survivors get warm welcome in cold Quebec

Since Haiti was struck by a magnitude-7.0 earthquake, Montrealers have reached deep into their pockets to help the victims. In an instant, millions of people lost what had taken a life to build. Up to 200,000 people lost their lives in the disaster, while more than 250,000 were injured. The government has put measures into place to bring Canadians home.

It is estimated that 6,000 Canadians were in Haiti when the tragedy occurred. When these people started to return to Canada, many of them arrived in Montreal.

They were aided by the Quebec division of the Canadian Red Cross and by Quebec’s civil security upon their arrival. Sun Youth appealed for warm clothing to apparel companies. New coats, boots, hats and scarves were needed, as well as socks and underwear.

Sun Youth established temporary quarters at the Wyndham Airport Hotel in Dorval, where the organization’s volunteers meet with the earthquake survivors to evaluate their immediate needs. People were given water and food as soon as they disembarked the plane.

Some quake survivors will be staying with friends or relatives, and some are in transit. More than 40 companies have offered or pledged their support to Sun Youth. The needs are growing every day and we continue to do our best to meet them.

Clothing companies wishing to make a donation can contact Stéphanie Rocheleau at 514-842-6822 for more information.

The organization is not making an appeal for used clothing at this time. We will advise you if the needs change.

Sun Youth helps those on their way to a new life in this country.

Most of them will need to start from scratch and our organization will be there to support them in this process.

Sikh congregations contribute to holiday campaign

Nicolas Carpentier

December, 2009

Sun Youth launched its Annual Holiday Campaign October 28. This year, the goal will be to feed some 18,000 people for the holidays and to provide 10,000 new toys for children under 13. To accomplish this mission, Sun Youth is relying on the generosity of individuals, companies, and foundations.

For this Holiday season, Sun Youth received a generous boost from the Montreal Sikh community. Every year, this community supports various charities to underline the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder of the Sikh faith. This year marks the 540th anniversary of his birth. Guru Nanak taught that people should share with and help those in need. This is one of the three basic principles of Sikhism.

Two congregations decided to lend a hand to Sun Youth and offered us their support through various initiatives. On November 8, members of the Gurudwara Sahib Quebec congregation in Petite Patrie / Little Burgundy welcomed Sun Youth representatives to their celebration of Guru Nanak’s birthday. This marked the 23rd consecutive year that this congregation donated to Sun Youth. They presented Sun Youth with 200 $10 food vouchers that will be distributed to victims of fire assisted by the organization over the Holiday period. In December 2008, Sun Youth assisted 39 families that were victims of a fire.

The West-Island Sikh Community (Guruwara Sahib Greater Montreal) presenting their generous contribution to the Sun Youth Holiday Basket Campaign. Photo: Nicolas Carpentier

The following weekend, the Montreal West-Island Sikh community also commemorated the birth of Guru Nanak at a special in their temple: Gurudwara Sahib Greater Montreal in Dollard-Des-Ormeaux. On this occasion, the members of this temple donated 10,000 food items to Sun Youth as part of our annual campaign to help 18,000 people during this Holiday period.

This temple was founded in 1999 and counts a growing community of a few thousand members. We wish to thank the members of the Montreal Sikh Community for their renewed support this year. Together, we are confident that we will reach our goal in helping those who need it most.

There was also a lot of giving going on at Sun Youth on November 26. The CHOM and CJAD radio stations were doing the annual live broadcast of their shows from outside our St.Urbain headquarters. From 5:30 am to 8 pm, listeners were invited to drop by with a food or cash donation. Dr. Alain Leduc from Centre Dentaire Paris Loft, 83 Rachel St. E came by early to bring the annual contribution from the centre as part of their commitment to give a percentage of their profits to Sun Youth. The doctor came in with a $10,000 cheque to purchase milk and eggs for our emergency food bank.

The street collection was very successful and brought in $10,157 for a total of $20,157. We would like to thank Dr. Leduc, everyone at CHOM and CJAD, as well as their station’s listeners for their support this year. From all of us at Sun Youth, happy holidays to Senior Times readers.