75 years old and still young at heart

Last Wednesday evening’s MRMA 75th anniversary party was a time for chatting and reminiscing among members – long-time and newcomers – as well as for paying tribute to one of the oldest such citizens’ group in Quebec.

People started to arrive a bit after 7pm and proceeded to meet old colleagues and catch up on the latest personal news over some wine, cheese, crackers, various fruits and delicious Syrian baklavas.

Others signed the municipal association’s Golden book, checked out the various auction items, including a Canadiens jersey signed by Hall-of-Famer Jean Béliveau, or looked at the back display panels featuring newspaper articles, position papers and pamphlets from the past 60 years. In the middle were the names of the 257 directors who have sat on its board since it started in 1932 – just 19 years after the Town’s own founding.

By the time that short speeches were made at 8pm, about 75 people had gathered in Schofield Hall. Congratulations and tributes were paid by Mayor Vera Danyluk and representatives of federal MP Irwin Cotler and Quebec MNA Pierre Arcand.

“Council offers best wishes to the Municipal Association on this anniversary celebration and for the future sharing of a vision of Town of Mount Royal as the place to live,” the mayor declared.

Among its significant achievements, she noted its participation in TMR’s demerger campaign and its initiative of presenting the Citizen of the Year award to citizens who give back to the community.

Danyluk also paid tribute to two past presidents who passed away during the past year or so. “Mr. Angelo Ruffo and Mr. Ed Ropeleski had distinguished themselves as leaders, gentlemen and scholars who gave back to their communities in so many ways.”

On behalf of Irwin Cotler, local Liberal riding association president Mark Leiter noted that the "local MP holds citizens’s groups such as the MRMA in high esteem since they are a grass roots organization that’s very involved within the community.” As a former resident of seven years, Leiter recalled that his family took full advantage of the Town’s recreational facilities that are due, at least partially, to the MRMA’s efforts over the years.

Constant Di Girolamo, local aide to MNA Pierre Arcand, read a letter from the deputy stating that its longevity is due to the selection of and the “energy of successive board of directors.”

On the MRMA’s behalf, current president Lew Greenberg noted that “this wonderful occasion is not only a celebration of our past, but the key to our future success.” In earlier decades, the association often had more than a thousand members, he recalled.

“Times have changed tremendously, but membership in our organization has never been more important. With residents increasingly looking to the Internet for information and resources, support from new members and those attending would enable the MRMA to upgrade itself to be more in tune with those demands”, Greenberg said.

Board member Farid Tannous, who initiated the idea of a 75th anniversary party and MC’d the evening, later said that it was a “really successful evening” because many people either joined up or expressed an interest in doing so. “It wasn’t only nostalgic, but also looking forward.”

In a private interview, long-time member Eleanor Coté asserted that the association has always worked hard to help citizens with their problems and assure that they understand what the Town is all about.

(Photos: Éric Carrière)