Lunchtime series features a virtual tour of historical websites

The Atwater Library and Computer Centre this week featured a talk by film maker, web

designer, history professor and almost Westmount resident David Millar, who spoke on the topic ‘Time Traveling on Canadian History Websites’.

Millar, whose career includes 10 years at the National Film Board and leading a number of oral history projects across Canada, led participants in an animated tour of local and national websites that depict Canada’s rich history.

He also gave the participants the tools to research their hometowns or regions, favourite Canadian heroes and families through books available in the collection at the library and online on their home computers or at the library computer centre.

Since 1970, Millar has been an oral historian and professor of history and is now in retirement. He says he is passionately interested in this kind of human exploration, and is working on interesting projects that include Voices of Montreal, a website whose basic format would be multilingual life stories, including music, podcasts and blogs from Montrealers of all origins. To find out more about David Millar or to access a list of online resources, go to his website pages.videotron.com

For more information about the presentation that also included a display of relevant books from the library collection and postings on the website, or for more information about upcoming lunchtime series speakers, go to www.atwaterlibrary.ca">www.atwaterlibrary.ca">www.atwaterlibrary.ca

Celebrating Robert Burns Day

Next Thursday, Jan. 25, at 12:30 p.m., the ALCC lunchtime series continues with a celebration of Robert Burns Day. The presentation ‘Some Scots in Montreal’ will be given by Rev. J.S.S. Armour, author of the book Saints, Sinners and Scots that is a history of the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul, Montreal 1803-2003.

His book is in the library along with a collection of other books by or about notable Scots in Canada and abroad.

Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch and as always coffee and cookies are provided. For more information go to www.atwaterlibrary.ca">www.atwaterlibrary.ca">www.atwaterlibrary.ca or phone 514-935-7344.



Knitting for a cause



The Pediatric Social Work Department of the Montreal Children’s Hospital was the grateful beneficiary of a cheque for $2,150 from the members of the Kensington Knitters, the group of crafty residents at Place Kensington, who are always looking for ways to benefit community through their innovative

knitting projects.

This time they raised the money from the sales of hats and scarves and raffles of blankets, all of which they created since their large donation of knitted items to Dans La Rue in the fall.

Rosanna D’Orazio, professional coordinator and social worker at the hospital, gladly accepted the gift, saying the money will go a long way to helping families cope with their children’s challenges.

For 90 years the social work department has been assisting families in the hospital that has been serving the community for 102 years. Today, the department has 25 social workers who support patients and their families with issues that include mental health and adolescence, and chronic and acute care with help that can include guidance and counsel dealing with their child’s health issues, connecting them to community resources and even providing tangible

assistance, including food and clothing.

Following the presentation the

participants enjoyed tea and a performance by pianist Vladmir Krassov.



Copie Resolutions relocates



Since 1991 Copie Resolutions has been serving the printing and publishing needs of Westmount clients, first at its location on St. Catherine Street and for the last nine years on Sherbrooke Street.

Like so many small businesses on Sherbrooke Street in Westmount, however, they have been driven out of town by landlords who continue to raise rents and make it impossible for business owners to continue and still serve their clients for reasonable rates on their services. “Unfortunately, the cost of the rent has risen to a point where we can no longer stay in Westmount ,� said partner Liz Valente. “We are fully aware that the new location is off the beaten track.�

As of Jan. 29, Copie Resolutions will be located adjacent to Westmount at 930 de Courcelle, across from Home Depot in St. Henri. The phone and fax numbers will stay the same at 514-487-0086 and fax 514-487-7801. The website will continue at www.copieresolutions.ca.">www.copieresolutions.ca.">www.copieresolutions.ca. The good news for clients is that they will still be able to e-mail or fax their copy needs to the store and will be able to pick them up later in the day or have them delivered.

Owners Nancy Williams, Liz Valente and Sonia Labranche tried valiantly to find a location in Westmount. “We looked high and low, even in the more obscure areas of Westmount to find a location in Westmount,� said Valente, “but we could not find a location that was large enough to meet our needs or affordable enough to still sustain our business.� They recognize local business from the walk-in customers on Sherbrooke Street will lag at the new location and hope to build on their new direction of meeting the printing needs of existing and new corporate clients. Westmounters who have come to trust the small business that revitalized the words customer service will be sorely disappointed.



Rotaract Club hosts fundraiser



The Rotaract Club of McGill University will host its third annual fundraising gala on Saturday, Feb. 3 at the Vogue Hotel. The evening’s festivities will include a silent auction, guest speakers on Rotary International and micro-credit, an a cappella group, an African dance performance, and a four-course meal.

This year, proceeds from the event will go to support micro-credit programs in Ghana. The Rotary Small Loans Program (RSLP) fosters grassroots development in some of the most undeveloped areas of the world. Last year’s gala raised over $7,000 for the Free the Children Foundation.

Rotaract is a division of Rotary International and is comprised of individuals 18 to 30 who aim to foster international development, cultural awareness, and community involvement. Rotary International is a world-wide organization of 1.2 million members in 157 countries. The Rotary Club of Westmount is also part of the international club that is the world’s largest not-for-

profit organization.

Ticket prices for the event are $95 for a single ticket and $175 a couple.

For more information e-mail mcgill.rotaract@gmail.com.



-- Marilynn Vanderstay