The City of Côte Saint-Luc presented Dr. Marc Afilalo and Roy Salomon with Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals at the start of the council meeting on February 11.
Dr. Marc Afilalo was nominated for this award for his contribution in the field of emergency medicine. Chief of the Emergency Department at the Jewish General Hospital for the past 27 years, Dr. Afilalo has become a reference in the field of overcrowding, use and misuse of the Emergency Department, acute asthma management, pain control, treatment of unstable angina and myocardial infarct. He is also largely credited for the recognition and development of emergency medicine as a specialty in Quebec.
Roy Salomon was nominated for his long time involvement with Maccabi Canada, from player to eight-term president of the organization. Mr. Salomon has received numerous awards for his volunteer contribution to the sports community. He is this year’s Honourary Co-President of
the Maccabiah Games in Israel. He has also been Vice-President and Honourary President of the YM-YWHA, received the Norah and Joe Rubin Leadership Award for 50 years of involvement with the organization, and is a 2001 recipient of the prestigious Yakir Maccabi Award. In 1995, he was inducted to the Montreal Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
I have personally known Roy most of my life and a finer gentleman you will not find. On April 14 he will be the honouree at the prestigious annual Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors Foundation Sports Celebrity Breakfast.
“We are proud that these two deserving individuals are Côte Saint-Luc residents,” Mayor Anthony Housefather said. “They are both uncontestedly leaders in their respective fields who have realized significant contributions and achievements.”
Côte Saint-Luc also acknowledged Councillor Dida Berku, who received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of her community service and her initiatives in helping preserve the natural environment. Councillor Berku was nominated for this medal by Senator Judith Seidman.
“I’ve known Dida since 1994 and she is a worthy recipient of this medal,” said Mayor Anthony Housefather. “It is rare to find someone who combines the precision of an attorney, the political smarts of an elected representative, and the passion of an environmentalist. She is someone whose advice and counsel I rely upon.”
The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal was created to mark the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne. The medal is intended to honour individuals who have given selflessly in service of their communities. During the year of celebrations, 60,000 deserving Canadians will be recognized. Côte Saint-Luc was invited to nominate two recipients.