The Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee wishes to extend our deepest thanks to West Island-based Rolf C. Hagen Inc. for its generous donation of cat food .
Some of the many bags of food donated.
Caring for pets since 1955, the family company founded by Rolf C. Hagen, has grown to become the world's largest privately-owned, multi-national pet products manufacturer and distributor. Driven by a common bond of love and compassion for animals, we are dedicated to creating practical and innovative products that enhance the health and welfare of pets worldwide.
Last month Côte Saint-Luc City Councillor Mike Cohen, responsible for Animal Protection, met Rolf Hagen Jr. who generously agreed to donate nearly expired cat food (less than six months) to the CSL Cats Committee. The products are being used to feed the many outdoor cats in the community, notes CSL Cats Committee Chair Diane Liebling,
“We are all thrilled to be able to help with your feline food drive and provide your program with the support it needs,” said Rolf Hagen Jr. “We are working on a robust corporate social responsibility program."
Unloading the boxes.
The CSL Cats Committee has received a large assortment of food at a retail value of over $12,000.
“We are extremely grateful to Rolf C. Hagen Inc. for this most generous donation,” said Liebling. “Among our volunteers are those that feed outdoor cats that are not socialized, but know to come to their door for food. We generally have to dig into our nominal budget to cover these costs, so the donation will make a significantly positive impact on our operations.”
Every year, we hold
a Benefit Concert, to help support the TNR program. The monies
generated from this concert allow us to take care of outdoor feral cats inCôte Saint-Luc and beyond. Unfortunately, this year, due
to the COVID-19
pandemic, our live concert
is cancelled. However, we are excited to be bringing you an online variety show, launching on Thursday, October 22 at www.cotesaintluc.org/catscommittee and on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CSLTNR) where sponsors and donors will be recognized.
This
fundraiser is so very instrumental in helping us to take care of the stray
cats in our community.
Our dedicated volunteers spearheaded by
C.S.L. City Councillor Mike Cohen, spend countless hours ensuring that the
needs of these animals are met. We are notified when stray cats are roaming
the streets and set up safe and cruelty-free traps in places where the cats often
frequent. Even though it may take awhile to trap them, our volunteers are determined to give them
a better life. While
some cats are feral and unable to be rehomed, many of these cats are often
abandoned. It is
our mission, have them spayed or neutered, and then find them a fur-ever home. This fundraiser allows us to buy food and year-round shelters for feral cats to sleep who unfortunately wish to remain
outdoors.
Since this is a vital source of lost revenue
benefiting our feline friends, we are now working on an online YouTube event
that will encompass musical talent,comedy routines and video messages from well-known Montrealers. In addition,last year, we held a very
successful raffle and we are extremely grateful to all those merchants who
donated items for this cause.
This
year the raffle will be held online in the hopes of reaching a much larger audience than last year. We are once again counting on your support
and hope that you will donate items of your choice to benefit this cause. We will be making themed gift
baskets that are sure to delight our raffle participants.
A capacity crowd of well over 300 people attended the Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee’s (CSLCC) annual benefit concert on October 24 at the Syd Wise Auditorium of the Wagar Adult Education Centre. Featured performers for Broadway’s Greatest Hits were the Musicians of the World Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Joseph Milo. There were also solo performances by soprano Olivia Charette-Hancinsky, baritone Burney Lieberman and saxophonist Gideon Vigderhaus.
Conductor Joseph Milo. (Photos by Rami Negev)
Funds raised will go towards the CSLCC’s Trap, Neuter, Release and Adopt Program. There are many feral cats in the community. The CSLCC’s team of volunteers sets out to trap as many as possible, have them sterilized and then adopted or returned to the spot where they were originally found. In the latter case, efforts are made to assist the feeders in the community. The committee has also rescued a number of kittens and found homes for them.
Councillor Mike Cohen, responsible for Animal Protection in the city, chaired the event. Diane Liebling is the chair of the CSL Cats Committee. Fern Collier-Pereira once again organized a highly successful bake sale which supports the committee's program for outdoor feeders. Malka Labow, Ronnie Roter and Randi Kader introduced a new raffle, with more than $3,000 worth of prizes up for grabs. Alexandra Cohen served as emcee.
The Expedia Cruise Ship Centres table.
Event sponsors were Expedia Cruise Ship Centres, with franchisee Sean Flynn; Gestion; Elm Investments, Rozenblat Realty Group and Parkhaven Towers; and D’Arcy McGee Liberal MNA David Birnbaum.
Anthony Housefather, Mitchell Brownstein, Mitch Kujavsky and Mike Cohen.
Thanks to Liberal MP for Mount Royal Anthony Housefather, Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, Councillor Mitch Kujavsky and Chris Savard from the Office of David Birnbaum for their encouraging words. Chris presented a cheque of $500 from the committee from our MNA.
Chris Savard (left) presents a cheque from David Birnbaum.
Musicians of the World
The Musicians of the World Symphony Orchestra (MWSO) was founded in 2006 by conductor Milo and his wife Lucy Ravinsky. This one of a kind orchestra is composed of 55 musicians: about 80 percent of its members are from 15 countries around the world, while the remaining 20 percent are natives of Montreal who successfully facilitated the integration of the newcomers. They have been rehearsing at Côte Saint-Luc City Hall for many years and as part of the arrangement, they agree to perform a benefit concert once a year for the CSL Cats Committee. We are very grateful to Conductor Milo and his talented team!
The orchestra in action.
On this night they performed a beautiful array of Broadway hits from the likes of West Side Story, the Wizard of Oz, Les Miserables, Aladdin, Cats, Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady and Fiddler on the Roof.
Olivia Charette-Hancinsky
Olivia Charette-Hancinsky
Olivia Charette-Hancinsky is a multi-talented Montreal soprano known for her “captivating stage presence,” “sparkling upper register” and “extensive range”. She speaks seven languages and plays seven instruments. Olivia just completed her Bachelor’s degree in Classical Performance at McGill University under Professors Winston Purdy and Joanne Kolomyjec, receiving the Margaret Kalil award for “Vocal Excellence” (2018), and the “Tomlinson Award” (2018, 2019) for “advanced musicianship skills”. Her passion for performing started at the young age of three with piano, dancing and singing. Since then, she’s sung in a wide variety of concerts, ranging from Jazz & Big Band to Musicals and then opera. This led to performances on international stages such as Tel Aviv University Israel, Florence Italy, Salzburg Austria, Montreal & Los Angeles Jazz Festivals, Maison Symphonique, Oscar Peterson Hall, Queen Mary cruise ship, Frank Sinatra’s Estate, PBS TV New York and finally Carnegie Hall.
Olivia’s innate musicality inspired her to arrange, conduct and sing with a girls’ choir claiming second place at the Heritage Fair in NYC. Similarly, she choreographed, arranged and conducted a boys’ team to 1st place in Montreal’s GLEE Competition. This led to being the youngest recipient of “Saint Lambert’s Cultural Personality Award.” She has played the title role of Marian Paroo in The Music Man, performed in A Chorus Line, sang in the North American premiere of James Garner’s Much Ado! and Die Zauberflöte, both directed by Patrick Hansen at McGill, and performed the role of Flora in Verdi’s La Traviata. Her latest appearances onstage were in Canada’s largest summer opera festival in Edmonton this year, where she performed in Cole Porter’s Kiss me Kate, and Benjamin Britten’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, while understudying for Tytania, the fairy queen.
Burney Lieberman
Burney Lieberman
Burney Lieberman is a long time performer of 32 years with the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre. Burney sang with the Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue choir for 22 years, and is currently with the Chevra Kadisha Synagogue choir- directed by Joseph Milo.
Burney has performed in 2 major movies, one of which he is extremely proud, to have sung the Kol Nidre as cantor in “Enemies, A Love Story”, the other movie being, “Barney’s Version.” Burney is a professional photographer , providing his images to hotels and private collectors.
Fantastic Raffle
There was also a fantastic raffle. The grand prize was a three night stay at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Old Montreal, with a fully cooked morning breakfast each day, evening receptions and dinner for two at the restaurant valued at $1,200.
Alexandra Cohen, Ronnie Roter, Malka Labow and Randi Kader.
A number of beautiful paintings were available. Internationally recognized multimedia artist Valeriya Khomar donated a gorgeous painting of a menorah on a glass light box. It includes a functioning lamp, with light bulbs inside. Valeriya's true belief, her philosophy, is that through Art, unity among people becomes a reality. Her goal is to show that the universal language of Art brings individuals together, regardless of their upbringing. Norma Nutkevitch was the lucky winner.
Mike Cohen, Norma Nutkevitch and Valeriya Khomar.
Other prizes, broken down into lots, were as follows:
Lot #1 Ben and Tournesol gift Basket
Lot #2 Stokes Gift Card, Spa Mani Pedi G.C, Golteez G.C (Gift Card)
Lot #3 Casablanca Florist G.C, Spa Mani Pedi G.C, Paragraph Books G. C
Lot #4 Stokes G.C, Foula Manicure, G.C, Paragraph Books G.C.
Lot #5 Salon Carina G.C, Foula Manicure G.C, Spa Mani Pedi G.C
Lot #6 Billionaire Brows G.C, J and R Kosher G.C. Mtl. Bagel G.C
Lot # 7 Foula Set of Acrylic Nails, Montreal bagel G.C
Lot #8 Avanti: Mani and Blow Dry G.C, Foula Mani G.C
Lot #9 2 Porcelain Cat mugs and plates, Mtl Bagel G.C
Lot #10 2 Hand Made Cat mugs, Foula Manicure G.C, Fruiterie Maruti G.C
Lot #11 E Qulib Gift Bag with spa cosmetics , Foula Manicure G. C
Lot #12 Little Bear gift Bag with 50$ G.C, Dermally Shampoo and Conditioner
Lot # 13 Two Paintings made by Frank Elekes
Lot # 14 Pharmaprix Gift Basket, Annie Young Gift Certificate
Recognizing Others For Supporting Our Event and Cause
We also wish to thank Shelley Schecter, Barbara Hilliker and the Côte Saint-Luc Hospital for Animals.
Thanks to our devoted fundraising committee.
This event could have never taken place without Janine West and her team at the CSL Public Library. They assumed responsibility for the concert last year. Thanks to Danielle Belanger, Lisa Milner, Justin Burnham and Farrah Mohammed as well as Maurizio Giobbi from Parks and Recreation, Wagar Principal Nick Katalifos and his caretaking staff, sound man Jeffret Karkour, photographer Rami Negev, Darryl Levine, Regine Banon, Ruth Farrugia and our wonderful Volunteer Citizens on Patrol (VCOPs).
The Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee (CSLCC) will hold its annual benefit concert on Tuesday, October 9 (7:30 p.m.) at the Syd Wise Auditorium (5785 Parkhaven) of the Wagar Adult Education Centre. Featured performers will be the Musicians of the World Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Joseph Milo. Some members of his orchestra will also present solo performances. The theme will be Jazz and Symphony. Gideon Vigderhaus will be the featured soloist on saxophone while Nicole Arrage will be the singing soloist.
Funds raised will go towards the CSLCC’s Trap, Neuter, Release and Adopt Program. There are many feral cats in the community. The CSLCC’s team of volunteers sets out to trap as many as possible, have them sterilized and then adopted or returned to the spot where they were originally found. In the latter case, efforts are made to assist the feeders in the community. The committee has also rescued a number of kittens and found homes for them.
Councillor Mike Cohen, responsible for Animal Protection in the city, notes that the concert will be an opportunity for people who love animals to enjoy an evening of fine music while contributing to a good cause. He also wishes to announce that Expedia Cruise Ship Centres, with franchisee Sean Flynn; Little Bear Pet Supplies on St. Catherine Street in Westmount and D’Arcy McGee Liberal MNA David Birnbaum, will be the evening’s official sponsors.
The Musicians of the World Symphony Orchestra (MWSO) was founded in 2006 by conductor Milo and his wife Lucy Ravinsky. This one of a kind orchestra is composed of 55 musicians: about 80 percent of its members are from 15 countries around the world, while the remaining 20 percent are natives of Montreal who successfully facilitated the integration of the newcomers. They have been rehearsing at Côte Saint-Luc City Hall for many years and as part of the arrangement, they agree to perform a benefit concert once a year for the CSL Cats Committee.
Tickets are now $15 (tax included). A limited number of VIP reserved seats are available for $25. Seats are also available online via Showtix for $15 plus a small service charge. Please go to bit.ly/catsconcert
Tickets are now available at the following locations: the main desk at the Eleanor London Côte Saint-Luc Public Library (5851 Cavendish Boulevard) and the Côte Saint-Luc Hospital for Animals (7930 Baily Road). Tickets can be purchased at the library by credit and debit card or cash and cash only at the Animal Hospital.
Local artist Nelly Leitner has donated this painting to the committee to be auctioned off at the concert.
Councillor Cohen and event Co-Chair Councillor Mitch Kujavsky note that information will be available that night for people interested in possibly joining the committee or adopting a cat. The committee will hold a bake sale before the concert and at intermission, with proceeds going to the outdoor cat feeding program. Diane Liebling chairs the CSL Cats Committee. She said the committee is pleased to have moved the event from summer to the fall. “I think our audience members will be much more comfortable with the summer heat no longer an issue,” she said.
The event is being organized by the CSL Public Library and coordinated by Danielle Belanger. The committee wishes to thank Nicholas Katalifos, Michel Leblanc, Hipolito Corral and the staff at the Wagar Adult Education Centre for their cooperation, as well as key event contributors Alvin Fishman, Harold Cammy, Maurizio Giobbi, Regine Banon, Lisa Milner, Justin Burnham and Library Director Janine West for their assistance.
For more information call 514-485-6806, ext. 2200 or log on to www.cotesaintluc.org/cats.
The Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee
(CSLCC) has officially launched its outreach and education program at local
schools. Alexandra Cohen and Renee Karp visited Hampstead Elementary School and
facilitated two very well received sessions about the Trap, Neuter, Release
(TNR) and Adopt Program.
Alexandra began by showing a new video
that she filmed, produced and edited herself about the program. You can view it right here.
It is now
available for viewing for the first time on YouTube and features interviews
with Shelley Schecter of Educhat and the CSLCC, Alanna Devine of the SPCA, and
Dr. Marlene Kalin from the Côte St. Luc Hospital for Animals.
Spiritual Community Animator Joseph Monachino, Alexandra Cohen,
Renee Karp and students at Hampstead School.
The Grade 5 and 6 students, many of whom have cats as pets, were attentive and asked a lot of questions. Alexandra and Renee talked about the plight of homeless cats and went on to talk not only about the CSLCC, but also about what it means to be responsible pet owners.
Alexandra and Renee intend on visiting other schools in the community to continue to spread their important message.
The CSLCC’s team of volunteers set out to trap as many cats as possible, have them sterilized and then adopted or returned to a place where they will be fed. The committee has also rescued a number of kittens and found homes for them. The city’s first ever cat licensing bylaw was adopted last fall.
For more information call 514-485-6806, ext. 2200 or log on towww.cotesaintluc.org/cats.
Many thanks to Ben et Tournesol on Sherbrooke Street West in N.D.G. for giving space to Educhat and the Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee to sell donated new merchandise. All proceeds went to the Trap Neuter Release and Adopt Programs for homeless cats.
D'Arcy McGee Liberal MNA Lawrence Bergman (far right) presents a $500 cheque to Shelley Schecter and Councillor Mike Cohen for the Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee. Mr. Bergman attended last summer's benefit concert of the committee. At the time he expressed his interest to support the cause of Trap, Neuter, Release and Adopt of homeless (community) cats. We wish to thank Mr. Bergman for his generosity. He serves as model for other MNAs to follow and we are pleased that he will take our important messages to Quebec City. The CSLCC works directly with Ms. Schecter, the founding director of Educhat.
The last few months has been very busy for the Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee and
we are just about at the end of our season.
I don’t have the exact numbers yet but this
year we did a lot of kittens and also many adoptions.
It has changed how the money has been used.
The six little kittens had to be seen by the vet and vaccinated. There were two
that were sick and had to be tended to until they were well. My friend was kind
enough to care for Miriam until she was well enough to go to her new home.
Miriam’s brother was with me until Miriam’s guardian felt she needed some
companionship and he went to the same place as Miriam. All six kittens are in
forever homes.
Diane held onto one of our TNR’s because
she was only about 4 months old and very tame. Diane just found her a new home.
Renee’s neighbor caught one of the cats
coming to her house and she took her in.Her husband adores the cat and so she is staying.
Diane took in two, one kitten named
Jack,(Female) anda cat named Gertrude.
The Adeles took in Esperenza and the
Shragie’s on Hudson took in a Siamese who had been hit by a car.
We caught two on Smart and Cote St. Luc
Road who are being well taken care of.
We caught and neutered a large colony on
Wavell. One of the neighbors took one of the cats in.
We caught and neutered 6 cats on Mackle,
including a mother cat. We will need to return when the kittens are old enough
to be neutered.They are being fed by
the caretaker.
We did some at Decarie Square, one at
Fern’s house, and a few atSt. Patrick’s
Residence.
We did 9 cats from Fairside and Donna the
feeder, is going to be helping with the trapping.
We still have some to do at the Lang’s but
we are on hold now until we find out how much money remains.
I felt that we did a good job this summer,
but unfortunately, all of the hard work has now been eroded.
We knew of a woman, on Eldridge who was
feeding a few cats, about 4 to six. A year a half ago, Reneeand Barbara, our volunteers,went to visit her and told her that we would
neuter, vaccinate and de-worm the cats.The woman was very rude to them and told them to go away.Renee returned a couple of times and again
was told to go away. Since we really require permission to go on someone’s
property to trap, we moved onto the next place.
Last week, Mike received an e-mail from
this womansaying that she had to go
into a facility because of poor health and that there was no one to feed the
cats.
I didn’t realize that it was the same woman
that Renee and Barbara had called upon, but it was.She now has 12 cats at her house, between the
ages of 6 months – 6 years.
It is amazing how one person can create
this massive problem. None of the 12 cats are neutered, vaccinated or de-wormed
and are procreating all through CSL.
We have a very serious problem here.
Firstly, I do not know if there is any money left to neuter these cats. All 12
cats must be caught and seen by a vet and neutered. It is much too late in the
year to relocate these cats, as that process take a tremendous amount of time
and effort.
Renee got the brilliant idea to talk to
another of our volunteers, who lives near to this locationand Tanya has kindly been leaving food and
water out for the cats.
I went with Renee to the house today, and
the Styrofoam cat shelters are absolutely disgusting.They need to be replaced with clean ones. The house is a rental and I do not know if
someone new will be moving in, but for the time being the cats need to be fed
there.
Aside from finding the money to neuter all
these cats, they need to be fed.
The only idea I have concerning this, is
that each one of us takes a day a week and we feed the cats over the winter
until we can figure out what to do in the spring.
I can take Wednesday each week. Renee said
she will take one day and so will Barbara.Anyone else who can help, please let me know.
We will provide you with the food and you
will need to bring water for them.
I know this is a big one to ask, but if
anyone has any other suggestions, please tell me, I am at a loss.
To say that I am angry about this, is an understatement.I feel that all the work that was done this
year is going right out the window because of one person who allowed these cats
to keep reproducing and did nothing about it. In my heart, I cry for all those
kittens that were bornoutside and are
forced to live outside,through no fault
of their own.
If we each take a day, it will not be a
hardship for any of us. But if it is only a couple of us that will do it, it
will be difficult for us.
Please help out by letting me know what day
you will be able to feed. The location is onEldridge between Kildaire and Mackle.
Thank you for helping out.
Shelley
PS. I just received a call from
Maimonides.There are 4 kittens outside
the front entrance. One is orange and the other three are grey. The people at
Maimonides are feeding them, but here is another situation that has to be
tended to. It just goes on and on.
The Côte Saint-Luc Hospital for Animals has been fostering the three beautiful grey kittens pictured below. They are just under five months old, adorable, socialized and in need of good homes. Shelley Schecter of Educhat and the Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee (CLSCC) rescued them.
Members of the CSLCC have been spending time at the Vet office to help further socialize these three siblings. They are a joy to be with and will make excellent pets.
This is a time of the year when many people sadly abandon their animals on the eve of moving day. We are very happy to report that homes have been found for the three baby orange kittens we rescued last month.
If you are interested in adopting any of these kittens, please email mcohen@cotesaintluc.org and we will discuss the procedure.
If these gorgeous orange kittens(two boys and one girl) had not been found by Councillor Allan J. Levine and his neighbours and notified Councillor Mike Cohen, they probably would not be alive today. Instead they and their mother are in kitty foster care.
We need your help! Sadly, the mom has lived outside too long and cannot be domesticated. Shelley Schecter, the wonderful trapper for the Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee (CSLCC) and Educhat, trapped the mom and the kittens. Mom is feeding her offspring and the babies are being socialized by volunteers. They will make wonderful pets. Only about four weeks old, as of this writing (May 29), they will stay with their mom until the end of June and then be available for adoption.They will then be vaccinated and in a few months time the CSLCC will cover the costs of their sterilization.
So please, open up your hearts and homes. If you are unable to consider adoption, please share these precious photos with friends and family. Interested parties can email mcohen@cotesaintluc.org. You can see how adorable these kittens are in this video.
Here is a photo of the three siblings. They are basically identical triplets.
