WHA profiles prominent personalities

Under the title 'All in the Family', the four Thursday-night lectures prepared by Caroline Breslaw will focus on a variety of local personalities whose accomplishments have had an impact on Westmount and well beyond.

The series kicks off tonight, Sept. 20, with 'The Hogg Family: Five Generations of Westmounters', a look at the family whose roots in this community date back to the early 20th century. Guest speaker Grace Hogg will trace her family history from her great grandfather, George Hogg, who owned the Guaranteed Pure Milk Company and was mayor of Westmount from 1927 to 1932.

On Oct. 18, a local angle on the 1912 Titanic disaster will be revealed by Alan Hustak, author of 'The Titanic: The Canadian Story'. In his lecture 'Down in the Titanic: Hartland Molson and the Allisons', Hustak will talk about these Westmounters and other prominent Montrealers who went down with the ship.

The following month, on Nov. 15, Caroline Breslaw will provide a look at John Young, the well-known Harbour Commissioner for the Port of Montreal who has been immortalized by a statue in the Old Port. In 'John Young and the Estate of Rosemount', Breslaw will talk about the man and his expansive property north of Sherbrooke Street.

The series winds up on Dec. 13 with Ruth Allan-Rigby's lecture 'Alice Lighthall (1891-1991): A Beloved Westmounter'. Co-researched with WHA archivist Barbara Covington, Allan-Rigby's talk will chronicle the accomplishments of the WHA founder and lifelong preserver of local heritage.

All lectures will be held in the Westmount Room of the Westmount Public Library, 4574 Sherbrooke St. W. beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is free to WHA members, $5 for non-members at the door. For more information, contact the WHA at 514-925-1404 or 514-932-6688.