Place Kensington thanks staff with a musical party

Pinkus tinkled the ivories for over 90 minutes, playing favourite holiday and dance songs as staff and residents, some well into their 90s, took to the floor to dance.

Throughout the year, the employees from the maintenance department to the kitchen and serving staff to reception and nursing meet the needs of the residents, happily and without gratuities. In December, the residents show their appreciation by giving to a communal gift fund for the employees. At the annual event, each of the employees is called up by name and is given an envelope with a cash bonus from the residents, followed by a cocktail party and dance.

Pinkus, a popular Montreal pianist for a variety of venues, had the opportunity to play a few original pieces from his latest CD, Slowly the Day Goes By. He launched the CD that features 73 minutes of original semi-classical piano compositions at the Yellow Door earlier this month.

“Too many of us are running out and about,� said Pinkus. “I composed this music to help people get in touch with themselves and, appreciate the essential components of our existence.�

To listen to excerpts of his music or to purchase the CD that is guaranteed to soothe the soul and help you slow down and enjoy the moment, go to www.markpinkus.ca">www.markpinkus.ca">www.markpinkus.ca

Westmount singer/songwriter Karen Potje also performed at the launch singing some of the original children’s songs she will be featuring on her upcoming CD Bunnies on My PJs, that will be launched in spring 2007. She was accompanied by guitarist Dan Kelly, known to many in Westmount for his work with the Westmount peewee hockey team. To listen to some excerpts or to learn more about Potje, go to www.karenpotje.com">www.karenpotje.com">www.karenpotje.com .



What I really want for Christmas this year

As the year 2006 comes to an end, recent experiences have made me realize that as sophisticated as we may be technologically, we are still very awkward when it comes to meeting the needs of those we considered physically or cognitively challenged. Handicapped the signs say.

Kudos to Nikolas Rigas, general manager of Guido and Angelina in the Pepsi Forum for not only ensuring wheelchair-adapted facilities, but for making it right when the system fails.

During a recent visit by members of the day centre at St. Margaret’s senior residence, the lock on the women’s wheelchair restroom was broken. While it did not affect any of the diners, the next day Rigas brought Chi Lim, coordinator of the outing, two large gift certificates to apologize for the potential inconvenience. Lim turned around and made money for the centre by raffling the certificates during the Christmas bazaar.

Conversely, when three Westmount residents went for a Christmas shopping dinner at the Alouette Steak House on St. Catherine Street last week, they learned first-hand that wheelchair accessible does not necessarily mean wheelchair-adapted.

Seated at the head of a booth, after being moved from a table where her wheelchair was shoved into a pillar under the table, and consequently her legs were pressed up against the pillar, a woman was able to sit comfortably for the most part, but jammed against the wall.

When it came time to leave, the chair caught the tapestry of the bench and it was ripped. After a very uncomfortable dining experience, with no hope of getting to the restrooms, rather than apologizing for the inconvenience, the management demanded compensation for the torn tapestry.

So my wish this Christmas is that as a community Montrealers would consider the needs of all Montrealers and look for ways outside the box to appreciate and accommodate. As the mother of an autistic child recently said, “I am not looking for my son to be healed, to be made ‘normal’, but that we just enjoy him as he is, a little boy with cognitive learning challenges and meet his needs in school and beyond just because he is who he is.�

So as you, around Westmount and beyond, celebrate the holiday season, I wish for you peace, health and prosperity and as a community a healthier attitude to being an accepting and accommodating community.

Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2007, spirit, soul, body, socially and financially.

Regards,

Marilynn.





--- Marilynn Vanderstay