Westmount vs.kids

I read with dismay (but not surprise) Kristian Gravenor's account of how some Westmount councillors are exploring their options for preventing local day-care children from playing in Somerville Park ["Silence in the playground!" March 6]. I understand that adjacent residents are bothered by the noise.

I am a Westmount resident and, as such, have had occasion to observe the snotty side of the "community" - which in some respects feels less like a community and more like an association of property owners united by self interest. I have stories of my own. For example, standing in line once outside the Westmount Arena, where residents had lined up to register for free activities, I heard a couple of women discussing Westmount Park School. One of them turned and said, "I would never send my kids to that school. They have an outreach program!" She whispered the word "outreach" as if the very notion were unmentionable in polite society. On another occasion I saw a police cruiser tear across the field outside Westmount Park School in hot pursuit of a skateboarder. The kid made it to the median at Park Place, only to be slammed to the ground by an irate officer. A woman standing on the corner of Park Place and Academy Row looked on approvingly. "Good," I heard her say, "they're always stealing the hood ornaments off my BMWs." Yes, she used the plural.

While these anecdotes are not representative of all Westmounters, they do describe one very real and substantial facet of the borough's so-called civic spirit. Personally, I call the place "Little Switzerland." Those tight-assed good citizens who are now so wholeheartedly exploring their options for keeping out the children should be ashamed of themselves.

» Donald McGrath

Union rights

Patrick Lejtenyi's article on anti-Guild musicians ["Sonic Disunion," March 6] was a great report. There was lots of good information on contentious Montreal music scene issues, but there were a few items in the story that we felt we should respond to.

In the article it appears that All Against the Guild founder Simon Jodoin is also a member of the Quebec Musicians Guild, as it is stated, "His dues are used for so-called benefits he never sees," and further, "He feels that the Guild is not legitimately working in his interests." In fact, Mr. Jodoin is not yet a member.

Also, Guild VP elect Denis Filiatreault is quoted as saying: "It's a case-by-case basis, but there should always be a very strict minimum for artists to be paid every performance… It could be $40 a night, with some of it going to the pension." This quote is accurate, but the conditions that may ultimately result in such a relatively low scale have yet to be reviewed. Therefore, Mr. Filiatreault's statement must be understood as being only a tentative possible solution for establishments that, for example, although being of very small capacity, still remain venues for live music. A formal recommendation by the guild's proposed emerging artist and live non-symphonic sub-committees will be presented to our new board in the near future.

Members of the Masse team will have the pleasure of meeting with Mr. Jodoin on March 28, and we are confident that his concerns will be addressed. The Masse team officially took office on March 17. We're very excited.

» Gérard Masse, President elect, Quebec Musicians Guild;
Denis Filiatreault, Montreal Vice President elect;
Paul de L. Harwood, Director

Addict addendum

In regards to your article on unionizing workers at the Old Brewery Mission ["Trouble brewing," March 6]. I'm not a former heroin addict (I did heroin at the age of 16). And why didn't your reporter, Noemi Lopinto, mention my university certification and eight years of experience working as a drug intervenor? Calling me a reformed addict was bad judgement on the part of your writer.

» Sonia Scarsella

Old Uncle Charlie

Uncle Charlie. My mother was taking me to see Uncle Charlie and Aunt Tree. I had never seen Uncle Charlie. Uncle Charlie had been in the trenches in the First World War and come back "shell shocked." He spent his time in isolation due to fear. Fear of what once was. I was told to be on my best behaviour, as to not upset Uncle Charlie. I was six.

They had a son, George, who was two years older than me and had an English accent. We did not like each other at first sight. He was sitting on the railing of his balcony when he said to me, "I'm going to biff ye one." Why, I don't know. I pushed him off the railing on his head. He became an air gunner in World War II.

I was never taken back to visit Uncle Charlie. What happened to him, I don't know. I did know that he never came out of the back bedroom. Which reminded me of the jilted one in Dickens' Great Expectations.

Uncle Charlie was in the war to end all wars. Or so it was said at the time. In a recent article in the Mirror ["Yanks want peace," Feb. 13], American Audrey Schirmer says, "What's happening now is terrible and I'm scared to death. I think Bush is crazy." So are Stephen Harper and the rest of the people who think war is a good idea. And then I think of Uncle Charlie. May he rest in peace.

» John C. Underwood

WE WELCOME LETTERS TO THE EDITOR!

Send your comments, compliments or criticisms to:

Letters to the Editor,
c/o Montreal Mirror,
465 McGill, 3rd Floor
Montreal, Quebec
H2Y 4B4

You may also fax us at (514) 393-3173, or reach us by e-mail:

letters@mtl-mirror.com

All letters should include your name, address and daytime phone number.

If you wish to reach someone in particular, here's a list of people involved with the production of the newspaper and this site.