For many years I personally tried to persuade the organizers of the Just For Laughs Festival to present some shows in Côte Saint-Luc, but it never happened. Maybe they should hire Brian Blumer, who is earning the crown “King of CSL Comedy.”
Under the auspices of the Knights of Pythias, an international non-sectarian fraternity that supports charitable, benevolent, fraternal, and social activities through its subordinate lodges, their members, and the communities each serves, Blumer spearheaded the first comedy night at the Côte Saint-Luc Aquatic and Community Centre last summer. Steve Paterson headlined. They had a about 100 people and Paterson was terrific.
Blumer, a tireless worker, set his sights on a much bigger show for April 23, 2025 and teamed up with the Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee. The latter runs a Trap, Neuter, Release and Adopt program and saves homeless felines. Full disclosure: I am the city councillor responsible for Animal Welfare and the founder of that committee. Our team, headed by Fern Collier-Pereira, held a fundraising bake sale before the show and the Knights of Pythias presented a $500 donation to the cause.
The event was a complete sellout, with more than 200 people on hand and they all went home laughing.
Tremblay-Birchall said he recently returned to Montreal after living in Australia for 26 years. “I see you are keeping the roads in their regular condition,” he said. “I love the deteriorating condition.”
Hickey invoked some good CSL humour. “I noticed you have a Catholic church,” he said. “What is that about, I asked? They said it was for the help.”
Hickey joked that what CSL really needs is an Irish pub, lamenting that the city does not have a real bar. He then corrected himself to state that the CineStarz Cavendish has a bar, but he wondered about drinking red wine with popcorn.
Daghlian, who holds regular comedy evenings at the House of Jazz in Laval. ‘They banned Lego sets in Quebec, “ he declared. “Now you have to buy Legault sets.”
Daghlian did a funny bit on using the Tinder dating app, talking about going to the Yukon and once there having to travel an additional 80 km to find a single woman in her 80s.
Bird, who was always naturally funny on air, said it was nice to be in CSL for a reason other than getting a prostate exam from Dr. Benjamin.
Elias always puts on a fabulous show and they are always different because of his gift of bouncing off every topic that comes from the audience and inventing an instant routine.
On the bike paths in CSL, he said he has not seen one bike actually use the path.
Orthodox Jews, he said, do not use the sidewalks. “If I did that,” he said, “public security would say I am a drunk man walking on Eldridge.”
Elias said people treat cats better than homeless people. “They give them names like Mittens and Boots,” he said. “Things that homeless people can use.”
Blumer, Calvin Finkelstein and John Derek closed off the night by issuing a series of door prizes. Noted traffic reporter Debbi Marsellos, whom Derek taught in public school, came on stage and helped with the draw. Pointe-Claire Mayor Tim Thomas, a supporter of The Knights of Pythias, was also a special guest.
Bravo Brian Blumer and a big assist to Anisa Cameron from the CSL Recreation Department who assisted with all of the logistics and Captain Irving Epstein, head of security for the event.
Blumer hopes to bring another comedy show to CSL next fall. Perhaps he should call Andy Nulman, a relatively new CSL resident who ran Just For Laughs for many years.
