Guided Tour of Verdun Greenhouses

Below is all the information concerning the guided tour this coming Saturday June 16th, from noon to 1pm, of the Verdun municipal greenhouses to present the brand new urban agriculture resource center, GRAND POTAGER!

Discover le Grand Potager: Centre for Urban Agriculture in the heart of Verdun!
21 member-organizations share the space. Meet some of our members and visit the greenhouses. Discover projects in aquaponics, composting, rare and exotic plants, tropical fruit trees, a garden centre dedicated to edible plants and more! A unique site in Montréal, in the heart of Verdun! Here are the links to the Facebook and Eventbrite for the event. 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/1685014831584005/
Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/visite-guidee-des-serres-municipales-de-verdun-par-grand-potager-tickets-46946052908

ENTRANCE FEE: 5$
Bilingual event

Thank you Austin

Stage student Austin (second from right), shown here on literacy day.

As the school year draws to a close, we say goodbye to our stage student from Lakeside Academy. Austin has been with us most Wednesdays and Thursdays since last fall, helping with Breakfast Club, Welcome Wednesdays and the VES hot lunch program. It has been a very successful stage and we're sorry to see him go.

A big thank you also to Sheila, as well as Frank, Sue and Leonore, who supervised Austin and made sure he had lots to do! Thanks to Ayana from the WOTP program for her collaboration.

All the best to you Austin in your future endeavours!

St. Jean Baptiste Mobile Brunch

It seems the road won't be torn up yet, so we are going ahead with this planned collaboration with our Sikh neighbours. On Sunday, June 24th, weather permitting, SouthWest church will be offering sweets and lemonade out on the church lawn at 11:30. If that stimulates your appetite, you can move on at 12:30 to the Guru Nanak Temple just steps away on Ouimet for a savoury buffet! What a delicious way to celebrate the diversity of Quebec in 2018!

Health and Wellness Fair May 31

LE FRANÇAIS SUIVRA

SouthWest representatives will be on hand this Thursday for the Health and Wellness Fair in Verdun. We will share a table with our partners from Un plant de tomate à la fois so people can learn about our programs. We will be offering apples from our Mini-market in the interest of keeping the doctor away! Please note the following details from our partners at CCS:

This Thursday, May 31st, CCS and the Anglo Family Council will be hosting our fourth annual Health and Wellness Fair at Epiphany’s green space – 4322 Rue Wellington. Come check out the fun as Promenade Wellington kicks off it’s Sidewalk Sale!

Between 1pm-4pm we will have hourly demos, raffle draws, healthy snacks and tables full of information regarding local health and social services. All are welcome – free admission. Please note the change that Zumba will be at 1pm and Chair Yoga will be at 2pm.

Drop by Epiphany a bit early, and catch their community lunch from 12pm-1pm – a yummy pasta dish will be served up by the awesome teams at Epiphany and Reclaim Literacy, for a suggested donation of $2.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Le jeudi 31 mai, CCS et l'Anglo Family Council accueillerons notre quatrième salon de la santé et du bien-être, dans l'espace extérieur de l'Épiphanie, au 4322 rue Wellington. Venez nous visiter dans le contexte de la vente trottoir printanière de la Promenade Wellington.  

Entre 13h et 16h, nous présenterons des démonstrations à chaque heure, des tirages au sort, des collations santé et des tables pleines d'informations sur les services sociaux et de santé locaux. Tous sont les bienvenus. Activité gratuite. S'il vous plaît noter le changement que Zumba sera à 13h et le yoga sur chaise sera à 14h.

Vous êtes invités à venir visiter l'Épiphanie un peu plus tôt et ainsi participer à un dîner communautaire entre midi et 13h, où un succulent repas de pâtes vous sera servi par les impressionnantes équipes de l'Épiphanie et de Reclaim Literacy. Une contribution de 2$ est suggérée.

Au plaisir de vous y rencontrer!

Jillian Ritchie
Manager - Network and Community Social Health
CCS Collective Community Services
451 Ave De L’Église, Suite 200
Montreal, QC, H4G 2M6
(514) 937-5351, ext 245

Markers at the ready: it's Bingo time!

Get ready for Bingo next Saturday, June 2nd. They'll be serving hotdogs. Cost at the door is $5, which gets you your first bingo card and a ticket for the (cash) door prize. Additional bingo cards can be bought for 50 cents. Doors open at 12:00, play begins at 1PM. Please note that this is in the basement of the church, at 1445 rue Clemenceau in Crawford Park. This will be the last monthly Bingo game until September, so don't miss it!

Invitation from our Muslim Neighbours

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan, during which most Muslims fast during daylight hours and break their fast with celebratory meals after dark, began on May 16th and continues through June 14th. Our Verdun Islamic Centre is inviting us into one of these celebrations during Ramadan. All are welcome. Let's live our diversity as community together. 
The food is provided but we can contribute desserts for this event.
Please circulate the  invitation below and ask people who wish to attend to confirm their presence by calling 438-936-3038

David Lefneski
President, Anglo Family Council
Minister & Community Leader

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Invitation: Celebrate Iftar with us

Each year the Muslim community all over the world celebrates the month of Ramadan with spiritual activities that encourage people to exercise values in their lives and to apply it among themselves. What’s special about this month is that rituals are not performed by people alone, but  rather it brings people together to share good feelings. It brings to Muslims state of peace and love like your Christian Christmas. We gather at the main meal when we break the fast after sunset each day in Ramadan, and we make sure to share these happy hours with the ones we love and care for the most.

As a united community, as family and friends, it is our pleasure to invite you to our community dinner (Iftar) on Saturday, May 26th at 8:45 pm in the Islamic Centre of Verdun.

We hope that you would come to our Iftar, as your presence would add happiness and joy to the event and sharing together these occasions, that are originally a family gathering, would make us a real family.

Yours,

Ayman Abouseada
Administrative coordinator
MAC-Islamic Center of Verdun
4538 rue de Verdun, H4G 3G3
Next to Metro station Verdun
438-936-3038

Community Notes

Scottish history in Quebec:

The Sons of Scotland are planning a Bus Trip to Gould Quebec in the Eastern Township on July 11th. Tickets are $30.00, which includes a Scottish Buffet Lunch  and a Guided Tour of Gould.

200 Scottish immigrants arrived from the Isle of Lewis in 1838 and settled in the Village of Victoria near Gould, so the tour should be very interesting.

A Buffet Lunch of Scottish Cuisine will be served at the Gould Rush Inn at 12:30.

The Bus leaves at 8:00 A.M. from the Champlain Mall near Tim Horton's and will arrive at Gould

at 10:30. Leaving Gould around 2:30 P.M.

If anyone is interested please contact Lorna Joannette at 514-761-1342. Cut-off date to purchase tickets is June 1st.
 

Spring Fling wrap-up

Last Saturday's Spring Bazaar made over $1,000.00 Thank you to all who helped by donating items, time, money and energy.

Sharron O’Reilly was the lucky person to take home the Pantry Basket prepared by Kathy O’Halloran that was raffled off, raising $118 for Benevolence! Thanks Kathy for your creative contribution!  Sharron 's name was also drawn for the chiffon citrus cake! Margaret Mercer's name was drawn for the surprise bucket! See photos of the day below.

Drivers wanted!

In the interest of spring cleaning at the Mission we are looking for people with cars to help take things to Renaissance on Wellington. Ten people doing one trip each would be a lot easier than one person doing ten or more loads! Call the office ahead of time to make sure someone will be here to help load up your vehicle. Thanks!

AFC Health and Wellness Fair May 31st

Spring Fling Bazaar/ Bazar du printemps

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 12 at the Mission. Come shop for treasures new and used; Local artisans will be plying their wares; Enjoy the snack bar. It's the day before Mother's Day: bring your mom! Let's celebrate spring! 631 Melrose ave., corner Verdun.

Anyone interested in helping out in any way, please contact Sheila Morrison, (514) 762-9940, smorrison9940@gmail.com.

A vos agendas! Le samedi 12 mai, des trouvailles vous attendent à la Mission du Sud-ouest. Des artisans du coin offriront leurs créations; livres, jeux, articles ménagers d'occasion; Casse-croûte. Apportez maman, c'est son weekend à elle! Au 631 rue Melrose, coin av. Verdun.

Community Notes

Mission volunteer Frank (on the right) was recognized at Dawson Boys and Girls Club's Volunteer appreciation evening for his support on behalf of SouthWest of the Un Plant de Tomate à la fois project in which SouthWest is a partner. Way to go, Frank!

This is the bench painted for the Mission by by youth from the rainbow Umbrella that now provides a cheery welcome to all visitors. A similar one will soon be installed at Verdun City Hall.

Congratulations to Natalie Miron and the young people of LGBTQ rainbow Umbrella. One of their Rainbow Benches is being installed at the Verdun Borough Hall. Representatives of the borough participated in the creation of the eye-catching bench which symbolizes the importance of creating inclusive, welcoming spaces. The mayor and members of council will be on hand for the inauguration of this bench on May 17th at 1PM, in the entrance hall at 4555 Verdun ave.