COUNCILLOR MITCHELL BROWNSTEIN DISTRICT 7

FALL 2001

Serving our community for the past 11 years has been the most rewarding experience of my life. At the time of my entry upon the municipal scene I was 29 years of age, a young marries man with a four month old baby. It was the perfect time to become involved. Today at the age of 40, with my wonderful wife Elaine and our three beautiful children Andrew, Matthew, and Marlee, I take my leave with the sense of the satisfaction at what has been achieved, although deeply concerned as to what lies ahead.

In 1993 after travelling to Poland and Israel to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, I returned to our city and organized an event where more than 600 people attended and we named a street Yad Mordechai in my district after the leader of the uprising. To the leader of the uprising. To see so many survivors of the Holocaust in our community and their families standing proudly during this sombre ceremony brought tears to my eyes and reinforced my great pride in our wonderful city in Canada.

Other special moments were the organization of our city's 90th Anniversary, so many Canada Day's, singing to our volunteers at Volunteer Recognition Night and participating in so many fantastic recreation events for, youth, teens, young adults and seniors.

My greatest feeling of accomplishment, most certainly was my day to day role as Pool chairperson. Having worked for so many as manager of the former Blossom Pool, I was sad to see the latter close, but determined to make Parkhaven even better. With the greatest support of our Recreation Department, Paul Desbarets, Louis Ferland and Pool Management Cornelia Ziga and Claudia Pittarelli we have truly rejuvenated that facility. It is a real country club with more green space , acuities such as Bingo and Arts and Craft during the day , fun weekends with prizes, dancing and great deejay. This pass summer we had our first Family Night where more than 300 people attended a Barbeque featuring a magician, a late night swim and a movie at dusk. We are renovating the locker rooms building a volley ball and basketball court and gym. This will be our legacy.

What I will l way remember most was my ability to serve each of my 3,000 constituents with ease. Working with residents on Sabine to have Hydro move the electrical wires further away from the home, working with the executive of the Or Hahayim Synagog to ensure its expansion supporting the establishment of the Hebrew Academy in my district , helping Chabad finally find a home in our community, and dealing with individuals on a one to one basis concerning problems on their streets or in their homes was certainly the most rewarding of all.

We must realize that 21 elected official have the three communities that will now become the borough of Montreal West, Hampstead and Cote Saint Luc. That number now shrinks to three. It is incumbent upon us to volunteer now more than ever, to ensure that the facilities, service and events which we have so much appreciated, continue to be provided by our community in the best way we possibly can.

Farewell dear city. You have served us well. I will continue to cherish you and nurture you as a parent s does to child his child. I will hold on to what we have achieve and work to find ways to continue our great path. A s a member of this community I will always be proud.