Mitchell and Elaine Brownstein; Harvey and Susie Schwartz; Anthony Housefather; and Joy Rodgers and Jordy Reichson.
I was pleased to be on hand at Côte Saint-Luc City Hall as Liberal Member of Parliament for Mount Royal Anthony Housefather presented King Charles III Coronation Medals to three well-deserving residents: Joy Rodgers, Susie Berkson-Schwartz and Mayor Mitchell Brownstein.
The winners were joined by their spouses, Jordy, Harvey, and Elaine, as well as their family and friends.
Joy has been a volunteer at CSL Emergency Medical Services for over a quarter-century while Susie has served with CSL Volunteer Citizens on Patrol since we started the organization in 2006. Of course Mayor Brownstein needs no introduction. For the past 36 years he has been serving CSL as a Councillor and Mayor, in addition to holding numerous volunteer positions in the community.
It was a wonderful and heartwarming ceremony.See this short and entertaining video chat I had with Susie and Harvey
Bios of Recipients
Susie Berkson-Schwartz
Today we are recognizing Susie Berkson-Schwartz with the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal in honor of her long-standing commitment to community service. Susie has been an active volunteer with Côte Saint-Luc Citizens on Patrol (vCOP) since 2006, dedicating almost 20 years to ensuring the safety and well-being of her fellow citizens.
In her role with vCOP, Susie has taken on many important tasks, including organizing vCOP’s presence at major events such as the Winter Carnival, the Ruth Kovac Blood Drive, Canada Day celebrations, and Remembrance Day activities. She also coordinates vCOP representation at local events in places like Trudeau Park and Ashkelon Gardens. Susie works closely with city staff to make sure these events run smoothly and are enjoyable for the public, making her a key figure in the community.
Before focusing on her volunteer work, Susie had a successful career as both an educator and a professional in the clothing industry. Her passion for helping others also led her to serve as the program coordinator for the Open Gate Senior Day Program at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, where she worked with seniors from 2009 until the program closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Susie’s exceptional service and commitment to her community make her a very deserving recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal. We are truly honored to recognize her today for her hard work, generosity, and dedication.
Joy Rodgers
Joy Rodgers grew up not far from the Côte Saint-Luc EMS station and knew from early on that caring for others was in her future. Working at Blossom Pool, Rabin wading pool, and at Parkhaven Pool, she’s always had service to her community in her blood.
At 18, she walked into EMS and 26 years later is still at it. Since joining in February 1999, Joy Rodgers has accomplished a lot. She is an experienced medic, driver and instructor. She led the quality assurance team and was in charge of recruiting, all while continuing to dedicate hundreds of hours of volunteer service to help others.
While not on shift at EMS, Joy is an active mom of two, a wife, an elementary school first aid coordinator, a cpr instructor, and a cancer survivor and advocate.
Mitchell Brownstein
Mitchell practiced law from 1988 until becoming a full-time Mayor in May in 2016. He was first elected to Cöte Saint Luc Council in 1990. He was an activist Councillor promoting issues of Canadian Unity, Co-Chairing the Cote Saint Luc Demerger Committee and advocating for Holocaust Remembrance. As a City Councillor he held the portfolios of Public Works and Parks and Recreation, introduced the Fun Card providing access to CSL recreational facilities, and established the Cote Saint Luc Dramatic Society.
He was co-Chair of the Aquatic and Community Centre building project, adding indoor pools, a gym, a fitness centre and dance studio, and activity rooms bringing new programs to the community as well as virtual options.
As Mayor he led the country in Covid-19 safety being the first city anywhere in Canada to mandate masks in public places. He opposed the CAQ’s Bill -21 Charter of values on secularism organizing a rally in front of City Hall and Bill 96 the CAQ language legislation leading a legal contestation before the courts.
He is very proud that our city was a finalist in the Smart City challenge whereby Cöte Saint Luc provided in-home technology to isolated seniors and received an $800,000 grant making Cote Saint Luc a living lab helping seniors live longer in their homes while staying connected to friends, family and city life. He takes great pride in the renovated Kirwan Park that was accomplished with 3.8 million dollars of Federal/Provincial grant monies, the refrigerated outdoor ice surface at the annex, our renovated arena, renovated outdoor pool with handicap access to match the handicapped access at the indoor pool and the drop-in Centre for older seniors with dementia.
Mitchell continues to promote health and fitness adding pétanque courts and a whiffle ball field, new basketball courts, improved tennis courts and Pickleball courts at the indoor gym and outdoor annex. He actively participates in the programs and facilities the city has to offer regularly swimming in our pools and acting in the Dramatic Society productions, this year in the role of the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz opening in May.
He has presented briefs on transit solutions to the ARTM, Hippodrome, Royalmount and held many consultations over the last 3 years on the city’s Masterplan that will provide new housing options where residents will be able to find everything they need for commerce and leisure within 15 minutes of where they live. This vision will allow the city to grow both financially and in size, bringing children closer to their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.
In a city published video and other media coverage, including a front-page Gazette story on December 10, 2024, Mitchell called out Mayor Plante to take decisive action in ordering the police to crack down on repeated illegal conduct by anti-Israel protesters and continues to pursue the matter with the Police and the City.
In another front-page Gazette story on May 22, 2023 titled “An anglo community, a dramatic society and the singing mayor of Côte-St-Luc, Mitchell is quoted as saying, “I do have a philosophy of life that guides me as mayor. You need to do things in your life that you find joy in and that provide joy to others. That’s how I run the city. It’s not just the Dramatic Society. Whether it’s swimming programs or ensuring we provide the best service with our public works, it’s about making people feel good and doing our best to make people feel happy. And Something Rotten!, for anyone who comes to the show, you give them two and a half hours of happiness.”
Medailles du Couronnement du roi Charles III
J’ai eu le plaisir d’être présent à l’hôtel de ville de Côte Saint-Luc lorsque le député libéral de Mont-Royal, Anthony Housefather, a remis des médailles du couronnement du roi Charles III à trois résidents qui le méritaient bien : Joy Rodgers, Susie Berkson-Schwartz et le maire Mitchell Brownstein.
Les lauréats étaient accompagnés de leurs maries Jordy, Harvey et Elaine, ainsi que de leur famille et de leurs amis.
Joy est bénévole au CSL Emergency Medical Services depuis plus d’un quart de siècle, tandis que Susie est bénévole au CSL Volunteer Citizens on Patrol depuis la création de l’organisation en 2006. Bien entendu, le maire Brownstein n’a plus besoin d’être présenté. Au cours des 36 dernières années, il a servi CSL en tant que conseiller et maire, en plus d’occuper de nombreux postes bénévoles dans la communauté.
Ce fut une cérémonie merveilleuse et réconfortante.
Traduit avec DeepL.com
