Montreal Times 26.02 October 10,2020 by Montreal Times

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October 10, 2020 •

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Canada Covid Alert App - why you should download it

With the way the CAQ government has been handling the pandemic in the past few months, it is not surprising that Premier François Legault is now recommending for Quebecers to download and use the Canada Covid Alert App. The province has not only been the epicentre of the pandemic in the country since the beginning, it is now reporting its own record-breaking numbers, with 1364 new cases in just the last 24 hours. The predicted 'second-wave' expected during the flu season has not only arrived early, it may prove to be worse than the 'first-wave'. The Canada Covid Alert App is now available for download in Quebec - but only for those who have iPhones and recent models of Android smartphones (released in the past last five years). It does limit the number of people who can use the app, but it is estimated there is close to six million peo-

By Bonnie Wurst mtltimes.ca ple in the province with compatible devices. At his press conference yesterday October 5th, Legault made his pitch for Quebecers to use the app, "The greater the number of people who register, the greater success we will have in breaking the second wave. We must continue to do everything we can to limit our contacts. When someone has Covid, it is important to trace their contacts… we ask everyone to co-operate." He then showed how easy it was and downloaded the app. However, one of the challenges of the app is to convince people that their personal data is not compromised and used for other purposes - a fear that has been circulating across all social media platforms since the idea for a contact-tracing app was brought up a few months ago. It is a legit concern, but mostly voiced by those who also believe the 5G network is spreading the virus or conspiracy theorists who believe the virus is not real and governments around the globe are working together to control everyone. Éric Caire, Quebec's • October 10, 2020

Minister for Digital Transformation, who carefully studied the Canada Covid Alert App, concluded that it is secure and no personal data, not even the user name, was collected. "Thieves cannot steal what we're not inputting.We can guarantee to Quebecers that it is safe to use this application," he said and added, "The more people who download and use it, the better the results will be." Your secret 'best lasagna ever recipe', photos of your cute pet, your new haircut or 'bad hair day', your spanking 'pandemicworking-from-home-pajama' look, your romantic texts to your spouse or lover - will in all likelihood never be seen by anyone, except when you leave your phone unattended and someone in your house decides to take a quick look. In those cases, it is mostly your dignity that may be compromised. The doubts about the app are far outweighed by the benefits.The new Covid Alert app is designed to let Canadians know whether they may have been exposed to the virus. Here is why you should download the Canada Alert App and how it works (you can find out more on the Government of Canada website at canada.ca/coronavirus ). HOW THE APP WORKS: • The app uses Bluetooth signals to exchange random codes with nearby phones that also have the app installed. • If someone you've come in close contact with later tests positive for Covid-19, they will receive a one-time key from their local health authority that they can enter into www.mtltimes.ca

the app. • You and others who have spent time (more than 15 minutes, less than 2 metres apart, over the past 14 days) near this person will then be notified through the app that you may have been exposed. YOUR PRIVACY IS PROTECTED: Covid Alert does not collect personally identifiable information about you. It has no way of knowing:Your location, name or address. The place or time you were near someone. Your health information - and no other information is shared without your consent. WHAT TO DO IF YOU TEST POSITIVE:You will get a one-time key to enter into the app. The app then notifies other app users that they may have been exposed. Notifications are based on having spent more than 15 minutes and less than 2 metres from another user in the past 14 days.Your identity is not revealed. WHAT TO DO IF YOU MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED: If the app notifies you about potential exposure, you should follow the guidance from your local public health authority. WHY YOU SHOULD DOWNLOAD THE APP: The app is another tool Canadians can use to help limit the spread of infection and prevent future outbreaks as we ease restrictions and restart the economy. The more Canadians who install the Covid Alert app on their phones, the better we can limit the spread of Covid-19. Download the app and help others use it too. 3

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October 10, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢

Quebec's Education Minister Jean-Francois Roberge announced this week,new stricter measures for schools

Quebec announces stricter measures for schools in red zones - will it be enough? At a press conference today, Quebec's Education Minister Jean-Francois Roberge announced new, stricter measures for schools located in the Red Alert Level-4 zones. While acknowledging the increasing number of schools reporting cases of the Covid-19 virus (at least 2,141 cases across 785 schools as of Friday October 2nd) their approach remains reactive rather than proactive.The measures that will take effect as of Thursday October 8th until October 28th, are aimed at 'keeping and guaranteeing the safety of students and staff' Roberge said and that schools will not be closed at this time, but they will monitor the situation. However, High school students in grades 10 and 11 will be following a 'hybrid' model for their classes - one day out of two they will be at school and the other day they will participate in remote online learning. It will decrease the number of students in schools, hallways, entrances and on buses by 20% he said - and it should make a difference. "It's important to implement these new measures because we want to do everything in our power to keep schools open. We think the best place for students is at school," Roberge added and that there was 'no plan to move to full-time online schooling'. Facemasks in high schools will now be mandatory for students in classrooms and â&#x20AC;˘ October 10, 2020

By Bonnie Wurst mtltimes.ca 'everywhereâ&#x20AC;Ś as soon as you step on the on the (school) land', he said.Teachers must wear masks in common areas and the lounge, but they will not be required to wear masks in the classrooms, as long as they keep a distance of two metres from the students. The government also wants the police to 'build a presence' around high schools to 'inform and remind' the students of the new measures and to 'intervene' when necessary. As for Elementary schools, not much has changed. Students in Grade 5 and 6 are still required to wear masks at school in common areas and on buses, but not in classes. When then asked why Ontario finds it important enough to make masks mandatory in classes, Roberge replied that the virus is www.mtltimes.ca

'much more limited in elementary schools than in secondary schools' but he was unclear about where his sources of information came from. Danielle McCann, Quebec's Higher Education Minister said that, "In-person classes at CEGEPs and universities should be limited as much as possible, libraries will be limited to book lending only, and social gatherings are prohibited. Research activities in labs can continue but any work that can be done remotely should - and that higher education establishments in the red zone must apply their planned emergency protocols as of October 8th, adding that 'anything that can be done remotely should be done remotely'. Extra-curricular activities have been suspended, including team sports, until October 28th. 'For three weeks, we will focus on individual training within your household, or you can have a partner for training as long as you stay two metres apart' was the recommendation. Gyms will be also closing for that period. An announcement concerning financial compensation for the gym owners is expected to be made in the next few days. This story will be updated with further details as they are made available. 5

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COVID-19: Less healthcare for seniors, more regulations for youth There has been a massive backlog in medical appointments and surgeries in Quebec's healthcare system due to the slowdown in activities in hospitals last spring, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and rotating lockdowns can only exacerbate this situation. According to a report by the Canadian Press last updated Sept. 15, 2020, there are 92,000 people awaiting surgery. The Quebec government is saying it will take at least several months to overcome the long waiting lists for surgery.To be sure, the first wave of the pandemic required a marshaling of medical resources to treat a surge of patients in the ICU. Retired specialists were called back to help fight COVID-19 even as family physicians couldn't see their patients because of the lockdown. Doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals were gradually returning to work during deconfinement, but after Labour Day news began to surface of the second wave of coronavirus cases and another possible shutdown and - voilà! - we're back almost where we started. What's the take-away? On the downside, this already means fewer in-person medical appointments and procedures. The overriding focus on preventing the spread of coronavirus dictates limiting the number of persons in healthcare settings. This means that many, often elderly patients who need someone to accompany them to the hospital or clinic have to go it alone or forego their appointments.The shuttering of restaurants for seated service hasn't helped matters either. Restaurants are a lynchpin of economic and social life, not simply establishments that sell meals and refreshments for take-out and delivery. They are places where people can rest up and use the restrooms on their journeys to and from work, school, shopping, and appointments. As long as restaurant dining rooms remain closed, many people just won't go to their medical appointments. Delayed, and canceled appointments will have to be rescheduled once again. On the upside, doctors are connecting with their patients in other ways, via telemedicine and telephone consultations.Telemedicine is useful when an inperson consultation isn't possible and a telephone call from the doc is better than nothing. However, patients need to be digitally savvy for telemedicine to even be an option and it doesn't replace a doctor's assessment of a person's condition based on close examination of their body and observation of their demeanor. Beyond these pragmatic considerations, some patients won't feel reassured unless they have really met with their doctor in-person. Private medical services are picking up some of the slack in the public sector but at a cost and for those who can afford it. Diane Doonan was instrumental in setting up the LaSalle D&D 50+ Centre for baby boomers and seniors and is

By Deborah Rankin mtltimes.ca

currently the organization's vice-president. She's a hands-on VP, typically volunteering 3 days a week to help members in whatever way she can. "Groups in the non-profit sector are having to think outside the box," she says. "We're seeing loneliness, fear of COVID coming up more than anything." The technological emphasis on COVID management strategies isn't exactly senior-friendly. The centre is eligible to receive grants to buy computers but they are of little value because many of the clients don't have the technical skills to use them while the centre can't reopen yet for the staff to give lessons. "Those seniors who have a computer have a window on the world," Doonan says. "Fifty-nine percent of our members don't have computers," she says but that's only part of the problem. "People living on low, fixed incomes can't fit a WiFi hook-up into their budget." It's not all doom and gloom. "We look at the obstacles and try to find a way around them," Doonan says.The centre hosts 3 group chats per week for seniors who only have landlines. "It's similar to a conference call and the groups vary from 7-15 members." The chats are facilitated via a Google Meet program supported by (Montreal) Catholic Action and also feature guest speakers. Canadian actress Jayne Heitmeyer spoke to the group about her life as an actress, giving them a behind-the-scenes look (so-to-speak) at her life on set. "She is absolutely gorgeous! You'd never guess she is 59," Doonan blurts out. Other guests have included Ann Soden the founder of elder law who spoke to a group about elder abuse and a representative from the SPVM LaSalle Police station who gave a talk about telephone fraud in COVID-19. Seniors aren't the only group challenged by public health policies designed to protect from COVID-19. In all the hand-wringing over whether or not to keep the schools open, Quebec came up with a hybrid model for high school students: one day in class, the other doing distance learning. However, the impacts of stringent regulations on the mental health of young people have been largely overlooked. After initially saying that students wouldn't have to www.mtltimes.ca

wear a mask in the classroom or at recess, on Monday, Education Minister Jean-Francois Roberge announced that high school students would have to wear a mask all day everywhere on school property, including in class. By some reports, this will also apply outdoors in the schoolyard.The police have been instructed to maintain a visible presence around schools, signifying their role as enforcers of this latest sweeping measure. Moreover, all intramural sports have been canceled until further notice. The Association of Quebec Pediatricians has written a letter to the province's premier questioning the new health measures announced for high schools. The pediatricians said wearing masks all the time and temporarily banning sports will do nothing to reduce COVID-19 transmission within that age group. "One of our worries is by creating these measures with the spirit of flattening the curve which we all agree to, I just worry that it's the wrong metric," said Dr.Sasha Dubrovsky, a pediatrician at the Montreal Children’s Hospital and Associate Professor at McGill University. "So keeping kids in schools and in sports is important. Adding screen time to children every other day only feeds into the addiction to screens that our society is facing and contributes to increased anxiety, increased mental health (issues)." How all these dynamics will play out in the current quasi-lockdown remains to be seen. More than six months into the pandemic, and with far fewer deaths and hospitalizations than in the first wave, it is time to balance the scales of healthcare and resume some degree of social normalcy. Replacing in-person medical consultations with telemedicine while substituting virtual communication for real contact will further marginalize many seniors who aren't tech-savvy. This can only increase isolation among seniors and have a detrimental effect on their health and well-being. Treating high-school students in the 12-17 years age bracket as if they were super-spreaders of coronavirus based on an uptick of cases among young people 18 years and up - college kids old enough to go to bars linked to outbreaks - will leave vulnerable young teenagers feeling targeted and stigmatized. A high-stress back-to-school environment won't work for anyone and is bound to feed the cycle of mistrust, depression, and acting out. Education isn't only about learning which can just as easily be accomplished online. It is also about meaningful social interactions, but this doesn't appear to be part of the program in COVID-19. Young people may be a lot more tech-savvy than their elders, but kids need to unwind and have fun too in real-time in the real world and on their own terms. October 10, 2020 •

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Glowing Vision of a UFO Observed Over Clarenville, Newfoundland and Labrador comes to life on new Royal Canadian Mint collector coin The Mint has added to its extra-popular Canada's Unexplained Phenomena series by telling the strange story of the 1978 UFO sighting in the skies of Clarenville, Newfoundland and Labrador. The Clarenville Event is vividly illustrated on a new glow-in-the-dark collector coin that captures the moment an RCMP Constable and multiple witnesses observed the mysterious lights and oval shape of an unidentified flying object hovering near the city of Clarenville. The Mint is now accepting orders for this mesmerizing coin. Working with a canvas-like rectangular coin, East coast artist Adam Young has recreated the events of October 26, 1978, when Clarenville made UFO history. On that night, RCMP Constable James Blackwood responded to a call from astonished

onlookers. When he arrived at the scene, witnesses directed his attention to a brightly lit object in the sky. Using binoculars and a high-powered scope, they observed the fin-tailed, oval-shaped craft as it hovered above the water near Random Island. It emitted no sound; and when the officer flashed the lightbar on his police cruiser, the mysterious craft instantly mimicked the lights. It remained in the area for nearly an hour before rising up suddenly and vanishing into the night, leaving no traces of its passage – except a credible eyewitness account. "I wanted this piece to include all the elements of the 1978 experience while also incorporating the rugged yet whimsical coastline so often found in the Newfoundland landscape," explains Adam Young.

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"Light and line direction were also important aspects of the design, creating a circular visual flow throughout the composition. This has been an exciting artistic endeavour, which, throughout my research for the design, has caused me to tumble down the rabbit hole of other Canadian UFO sightings." True to the scene described by witnesses that night, luminescent elements on the coins shine through when exposed to a black light. The rectangular $20 Fine Silver Coin - Canada's Unexplained Phenomena: The Clarenville Event has a limited mintage of 5,000 and retails for $129.95. This new collectible may be ordered as of today by contacting the Mint at 1-800-267– 1871 in Canada, 1-800-268–6468 in the US, or at www.mint.ca .

October 10, 2020 •

[Top right] Not everything is "new" at the Festival du nouveau cinéma: Mad Max a cult movie saga will be one of its special presentations [Top left] "This is not a Burial, It's a Resurrection" directed by Lemonang Jeremiah Mosese from South Africa combines environmental and cultural issues [Bottom left] "Atlantis" is a compelling Ukrainian movie directed by Valentyn Vasyanovich with an impressive photograhy

New Cinema Festival: a diverse offering The 49th edition of the Festival du nouveau cinema (FNC) has also adapted to the new conditions created by COVID-19, and it is being presented in a hybrid format. There are a few shows with the public in attendance in a driving-in especially installed at Parking Lot 11 of the Trudeau Airport, and a more extensive selection of films available online. Nicolas Girard Deltruc, DirectorGeneral of the FNC, stated in a press release: "As early as last spring, we made the decision to maintain our 49th edition in a hybrid form, online and indoors. Today, I congratulate us on this wise choice, which allows us to offer moviegoers across the country an edition filled with discoveries and eagerly awaited films, as is the tradition at the FNC." The 2020 edition of the festival will be running from October 7 to the 31. For this year and just looking at the description and origin of the movies, diversity seems to be one of its characteristics. The International Competition presents these titles: "Atlantis," Valentyn Vasyanovych (Ukraine); "Bad Roads", Natalya Vorozhbit (Ukraine); "The Cloud in her Room," Zheng Lu Xinyuan (China, Hong Kong); "Desterro," Maria Clara Escobar (Brazil, Portugal, Argentina); "Êxtase," Moara Passoni (Brazil, USA); "Kill it and Leave this Town," Marius Wilczynski (Poland); "Servants," Ivan Ostrochovsky (Slovakia, Romania, Czech Republic, Ireland); "The Shepherdess and the Seven Songs," Pushpendra Singh (India); "This is Not a Burial, • October 10, 2020

By Sergio Martinez mtltimes.ca

It's a Resurrection," Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese (Lesotho, Italy, South Africa); "Topside," Logan George et Celine Held (USA). I had the chance to see "Atlantis" at last year's Toronto Festival, and it is a drama that I strongly recommend. Set in a postapocalyptic Ukraine after a devastating war, a soldier suffering from PTSD and a young woman whose work is to exhume bodies, cross their lives. Awe-inspiring cinematography contributes to enhancing the many angles of this drama, which, although set in the near future, may well bring images that seem too present today. The section that showcases national movies allows to watch these titles: "Il n'y a pas de faux métier," Olivier Godin (Quebec); "Sin La Habana" ("Without Havana"), Kaveh Nabatian (Quebec and coproduced www.mtltimes.ca

with Cuba); "Violation," Dusty Mancinelli and Madeleine Sims-Fewer (Ontario); and "Judy Versus Capitalism," Mike Hoolboom (Ontario). Les incontournables (The Inescapable) is a section that presents movies by renowned directors. On this occasion, the list includes: "Conference," Ivan Tverdovskiy (Russia, Estonia, UK, Italy); "There is no Evil," Mohammad Rasoulof (Iran, Germany, Czech Republic), Golden Bear at the Berlin Festival; "Undine," Christian Petzold (Germany, France); "Uppercase Print," Radu Jude (Romania); and the documentary "Wim Wenders, Desperado," Campino and Eric Friedler (Germany). Not every film falls in the category of "new," this year the FNC is also featuring some old cult movies, among them: "The Shining" (Stanley Kubrick), "Pink Floyd: The Wall" (Alan Parker), "Total Recall" (Paul Verhoeven), and a "Mad Max" night featuring all four films. These movies will be shown at the Parking Lot 11 of the Trudeau Airport. For detailed information including full descriptions of all films, schedules, and prices for each show visit: www.nouveaucinema.ca/en 9

Domino's to Hire 2,000 new team members to help busy stores feed pizza lovers The largest pizza delivery company in Canada and its franchisees continue to work hard to serve local communities and provide delicious, hot food safely to everyone looking for a meal.To continue to fulfill this mission, staffing is critical at times like these. Domino's is looking to fill 2,000 open store positions including delivery experts, pizza makers, customer service representatives, managers, and assistant managers. "While many local, provincial, and federal rules are closing dine-in restaurants, it's a privilege to be able to feed families and friends across the country and provide them with a small sense of normalcy during this pandemic," said Steve Karagioules, Regional Vice President – Quebec & Maritimes. "Our stores want to make sure they're not only feeding people but also providing opportunity to those looking for work. During these difficult times, and as always, the safety of our team members and 10

customers is our number one priority." Domino's stores across Canada have also implemented several cleanliness, sanitization, and zero contact precautions based on the advice of Health Canada. They include wearing masks, zero contact pizza deliveries and carryout, closing all in-store seating options, and increasing the frequency of sanitation of all regularly touched surfaces.As new stores continue to be built and existing stores remain busy nationwide, the need to find great team members is a priority for store managers. What starts out as a part-time job could also become a career, as more than 95% of Domino's Canada franchisees began their career as part-time team members. "We realize many folks are experiencing tough times right now, and we want to provide opportunities to those who have lost their jobs or are facing reduced hours," Karagioules said. "Domino's stores offer flexible work options, which include partwww.mtltimes.ca

time and full-time positions. If you are looking for a steady income and want to be a part of a great team, we encourage you to apply." To learn more or apply for a position, go to Dominos.ca/careers or the Domino's ordering apps for iPad®, iPhone®, or Android™. About Domino's Pizza® of Canada With over 530 stores in every Province and two of three Territories, Domino's Pizza of Canada is the recognized industry leader in QSR pizza. Domino's Pizza of Canada Ltd. (DPC) is a privately held company and is the Canadian Franchisee of Domino's Pizza International Franchising, Inc. of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Founded in 1960, Domino's Pizza ranks among the world's top public restaurant brands with a global enterprise of more than 17,000 stores in over 90 markets. October 10, 2020 •

Five intriguing wines for the Fall The strange times continue to roll in with the second wave of COVID-19 and we don't seem to totally break free from the human confinement idea.We have become characters of paintings from Edward Hopper trying to break free.

By Marco Giovanetti mtltimes.ca The human condition has been temporarily halted. As I write these lines, the hospitality and cultural sectors are being closed down. The fall looks very bleak as well, since the traditional wine festivals of October and November are cancelled as well. This is very sad and has affected in general the morale of the Quebec wine media as well as the winelovers.Well, there is always the impersonal world of virtual wine tastings. It is the best solution that we have at the moment but it doesn't fit me. In this column, I would like to propose to you five intriguing wines to enjoy with your next takeout meal or when you are in a dark state of mind. I would like to think that we can get something positive with a good glass of wine.This is the time to cook a bit less as well and eat "outside" to support our local restaurant trade.

present but used in moderation. A beauty of a wine under $20.

CVNE Gran Reserva 2013 $28.30 SAQ #12591944

Dao, Outeiro, Quinta da Pellada $16.65 SAQ # 14346176

Classic Rioja nose. Great nose reminiscent of prune jam, cigar box, marjoram and balsamic undertones. Full body, noble structure with quite smooth tannins. Flavours bring to mind hazelnuts, cocoa and leather. Wood treatment is elegant. Should be fine to drink now but it should improve in the next 3-5 years.

Classic Portuguese nose. Smoky black fruit with a cool mineral profile. A good spice note as well. Full body with soft tannins as well Round. Perfect weekday wine. Only $16.65

Prosecco Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Superiore. Sommariva. $19.95 SAQ # 14444391

Valle del Maule-Chile, Laberinto Sauvignon 2019, Rafael Tirado $25 SAQ # 14479139 Green olives with a hint of green pepper complemented by ripe white fruit and medicinal herbs Medium to full body.Vegetal and peppery. High strung acidity finishing off with a clean finale. Great original in style Navarra, Emilio Valerie 2017, Laderas de Montejurra. $18.20 SAQ # 14182458 Ripe blue fruit with notes of menthol and smoke. It really pleases me. Elegant with a slight funky note. Full body with a meaty structure. Powerful. Oak aging is • October 10, 2020

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October 10, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢

Just For Laughs: Steve Byrne talks about "The Opening Act" American comedian Steve Byrne knows what it's like to travel the long, tough road to success in the world of stand-up comedy. And that's especially so when you're starting at the bottom and get the most un-

By Stuart Nulman mtltimes.ca enviable job on that night's line-up: the opening act. “At a comedy club, the comic who is the opening act on a line-up is like the canary in the coal mine or a fish out of water, especially when you're just starting out," said Byrne during a recent phone interview. The Pittsburgh native transcended his personal experiences about starting out as a comedian into his first comedy film production called "The Opening Act", which is scheduled to be released in theatres and digitally on October 16. And to celebrate its opening, Just For Laughs' first ever virtual festival will have Byrne and several members of the cast -- such as Cedric the Entertainer, Jimmy O.Yang, Anjelah Johnson and Roy Wood, Jr. -- participate in a special panel discussion on October 10 at 6:30 p.m., in which clips from the movie will be presented, and the comedian-filled cast will share their own stories about breaking into the stand-up comedy scene ... with tales of bombing, as well as comedy club and road war stories included. Byrne, who has been plying his comedic talents in clubs, on TV and cable, on comedy road tours and festivals for nearly 25 years, got the idea for the movie following the cancellation of "Sullivan & Son", the TBS sitcom that he created and starred in, which ran for three seasons. “After Sullivan & Son was cancelled, the phone stopped ringing. So while I was wondering what to do next and licking my wounds, I thought that I would like to do a movie about starting out in stand-up comedy," he said. "People want to see that world like they have never seen it before. Other movies that deal with that subject like Punch Line are good, but they never went the distance about telling those war stories that are so far fetched, yet they have a grain of truth to them." "The Opening Act" takes place in real time over the course of four days, and cen• October 10, 2020

Steve Byrne tres on Will Chu (Jimmy O.Yang), a passionate aspiring comic who has a humdrum day job. But when he gets the golden opportunity to emcee an upcoming comedy show in which he becomes the opening act for his favourite comic Billy G. (Cedric the Entertainer), Will has to decide whether to return to his everyday life, or dive in head first to pursuing his dream of being a successful stand-up comedian. The movie features an impressive cast of some of the biggest names in comedy today, such as Russell Peters, Bill Burr, Ken Jeong, Iliza Schlesinger, Whitney Cummings and Neal Brennan. And speaking of big names, Byrne gives a lot of credit to Just For Laughs for their generous cooperation towards providing comics to perform in the film's cold opening. "The cold opening involves Will and his dad watching a number of well-known comedians perform on stage.And without the festival's immense help, that opening would not have been possible. In fact, getting access to all that great comedy talent for the movie was almost like shooting fish in a barrel," he said. And any worries Byrne had about what other comedians would think of the film, especially those who were part of the cast, were quashed when they finally saw the film and liked how honestly comedians were being portrayed. "When Bill Burr saw it, he loved it. He especially liked how authentic it was, and how it regurgitated all those horrible memories about his early www.mtltimes.ca

days in comedy," he said. "In fact, the film is like a perfect conduit for them to relive those horrible memories. It shows the best and worst of what happens to a young comic who appears onstage for the first time, and what's ahead of him on that hard road to success." Although Byrne has developed his skills as an actor, comedian and writer, being a feature film director was one career challenge he was hesitant to pursue. But thanks to actor Vince Vaughn, who was one of the producers of "The Opening Act", he convinced Byrne to work behind the cameras for this project. "Vince was happy that the film was being made," he said. "But he said to me that because it was my story, I should be the one to direct the film. He also said that I was the sole conduit and purveyor of the story, and he had a lot of confidence in me as a director. For that, I owe him a lot. Directing The Opening Act was one of the greatest - and difficult -- professional experiences of my life." "But in the end, you dust yourself off and enjoy the after party of life, where the whiskey tastes better," he added. To catch "Breaking In" with Steve Byrne and some of the cast of "The Opening Act" on October 10 as part of the Just For Laughs virtual festival, go to: www.hahaha.com/en/2020festival . Admission to this and all the shows on the line-up are free of charge. 13

Canadian housing starts trend sees little change in September The trend in housing starts was 214,647 units in September 2020, up from 212,609 units in August 2020, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).This trend measure is a six-month moving average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR) of housing starts. "The national trend in housing starts was largely unchanged in September," said Bob Dugan, CMHC's chief economist. "Multifamily starts have been very volatile in recent months, partly reflecting the impact of COVID-19. High levels of multi-family starts in July and August were largely offset by lower levels in September, leaving the trend largely unchanged. This pattern was particularly evident in Ontario, including Toronto.We expect national starts to trend lower by the end of 2020 as a result of the negative impact of COVID-19 on economic and housing indicators." CMHC uses the trend measure as a complement to the monthly SAAR of housing starts to account for considerable swings in monthly estimates and obtain a more complete picture of Canada's housing market. In some situations, analyzing only SAAR data can be misleading, as they are largely driven by the multi-unit segment of the market which can vary significantly from one month to the next.

The standalone monthly SAAR of housing starts for all areas in Canada was 208,980 units in September, a decrease of 20.1% from 261,547 units in August.The SAAR of urban starts decreased by 21.1% in September to 195,909 units. Multiple urban starts decreased by 27% to 146,005 units in September while single-detached urban starts increased by 3.4% to 49,904 units. Rural starts were estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 13,071 units. Preliminary Housing Starts data are also available in English and French through our website and through CMHC's Housing Market Information Portal. Our analysts are also available to provide further insight into their respective markets. Like many other government organizations, businesses and individuals, we are closely following developments around COVID-19. The monthly release of our

Preliminary Housing Starts data will continue as planned. CMHC will report any impact on our ability to collect housing data. We are always looking to improve our products and the way we share key housing market data and analysis. As such, starting in November 2020, we will be moving our monthly housing starts data and news release from the 6th to 11th business day. This allows us to deliver a complete package of data all at once, rather than releasing preliminary data at an earlier date. October housing starts will be released at 8:15 ET on Tuesday, November 17, 2020. As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers objective housing research and information to Canadian governments, consumers and the housing industry.

Investing in your health By Joanna Wright Montreal Times

oon after my father’s death, my family began the arduous task of sorting through his financial affairs. While doing so, we discovered that he had left us with a generous amount of money through his life insurance plan. Through my grief, something kept making me shake my head, as I rolled those two little words around in my brain. Life insurance? How ironic. He was dead. There was no insurance of “life” for my father in this long term investment. The only thing that was certain is that he wouldn’t be the one reaping the benefits. Then a strange emotion began to emerge. Regret. Why hadn’t he invested in his health with this money while he was still alive? Perhaps we could have enjoyed a few more good years to share together? Did he really think I’d rather have this money than have him here beside me? I recount this story often to groups of seniors who fail to see the importance of investing in their health.

Whether it be a personal fitness trainer, a recumbent exercise bike or a gym membership, I explain to them that, in the end, we will all pay for our health in one way or another. But being proactive and staying healthy is much cheaper in the long run and much more fun. Consider the statistics. As a senior, if you are no longer able to live independently, the average cost of an assisted care living facility is approximately $1800 to $5000 a month. Most seniors who find themselves in this predicament can no longer perform the basic tasks of taking care of themselves due to weak muscles, low energy endurance, arthritic bones, or balance issues. In contrast, a good treadmill might set you back $1000. A qualified trainer $65 an hour. A gym membership $100 a month. There is no comparison. As a trainer who specializes in working with seniors, I have perfected the fine art of targeting the exact exercise movements that will give my clients the tools to stay afloat. I once trained a 90 year old woman in her own

condo until she ultimately had to accept the fact that she needed more care. She lamented to me, “I guess I failed.”. On the contrary. She had worked hard to give herself 4 more years of living HER way. Sleeping when she wanted, eating what she wanted, DOING what she wanted. I call that a success. Looking back, I wish my father had invested not for us...but for him. I miss him. He crossed his fingers and hoped for good health while diligently planning financially for his demise. I can’t help my dad anymore. But my passion and my goal as an older adult fitness trainer is to motivate, educate and guide other seniors to invest in their health today, so that their families are able to love them for as long as possible! Joanne Wright is the co owner of Age in Motion, In Home Fitness and Mobility services

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October 10, 2020 •

Book Reviews - mtltimes.ca

The Butcher of Park Ex by Andreas Kessaris There is this certain rule of thumb when it comes to writers who are stuck finding a subject matter for their next book, article or screenplay: write what you know. When it comes to Andreas Kessaris, a local book reviewer for the website Cur-

By Stuart Nulman mtltimes.ca tains Up!, one thing he does know well is the neighbourhood where he grew up: Park Extension (a.k.a. "Park Ex").This area, which is located between the city's east and north ends, is best known for several things, such as the birthplace of the late Habs legend Dickie Moore, the home of the studios of CFCF channel 12 and CFCF radio for five decades and the site of Jarry Park, which was the home turf of the Expos from 1969 to 1976, not to mention the high concentration of several ethnic communities like Italians, Greeks and East Indians. This is where Kessaris spent his formative years, as the son of Greek immigrants, who was caught in the middle of the ways of life of the old country that his parents preached, and the Canadian way of life that influenced the children who fell into the second generation category, like Kessaris. And through a lot of career hopes and dreams, epic road trips, family dilemmas, and looking for love in all the wrong places, Kessaris recalls them with a sense of fondness and painful honesty with his debut book The Butcher of Park Ex. This is no true crime story as the title may suggest, but a collection of 24 autobiographical short stories based on his formative years in Park Ex, from Birnam Street to Stuart Avenue to L'Acadie Boulevard and everywhere in between in this multicultural mosaic district. Many of the stories practically read like incidents that you would see on an episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm", with Kessaris filling the Larry David role. So whether it be a typical family Sunday shopping trip, the mystery of how his taxi cab driver dad always carried a large wad of dollars, trying to start a relationship with a female colleague at the record store where he worked, having his motorcycle fantasies dashed when he encounters two badly injured bikers, or his disdain for traditional Greek dishes that were served at a New Year's Eve dinner, the stories that Kessaris shares in the book are filled with humour, â&#x20AC;˘ October 10, 2020

comedy, camaraderie, and plenty of pathos that will automatically create a deep feeling of empathy for the author in his endless pursuit of personal happiness. My favourite story in this collection is "A Souvenir of Letterman". In it, Kessaris recounts how he pursued his show biz dream job of being a writer for Late Night with David Letterman and The Late Show with David Letterman, but instead ends up with a pair of tickets to the latter show, makes a lightning trip to New York to catch the taping of that scheduled broadcast, and takes home a rare Letterman autograph on one of the tickets. www.mtltimes.ca

So whether you grew up in Park Ex,Ville St. Laurent, or the Plateau; attended Outremont, Sir Winston Churchill or Wagar high school; or spent your free time with your circle of friends in the forbidden video arcades of any major suburban mall, don't think you had a dull time growing up. Every suburb or district always has its share of stories of people spending their youth with those streets and hang outs as their playground. And The Butcher of Park Ex proves that these examples of a childhood well spent -- although at first it may sound mundane -- always make for good reminiscing and reading. 15

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October 10, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢

A tooth cleanser that’s khaki green By Martha Shannon mtltimes.ca

Khaki green is an earth colour, the camouflage of the warrior. Our tooth cleanser is dressed for battle. Not the toothpaste usual bright green gel, but a dull, khaki green. Maybe not the most common colour for a tooth paste, we agree. But once you understand the goal and master the usage, the khaki takes on a new meaning. We don’t actually call it toothpaste either. We call it Tooth Cleanser, mainly because we did not want you to compare it to the standard blinding whites or neon greens or electric blues out there. When we first made the cleanser years ago, we reminded you to check your regular toothpaste labels for SLS, triclosan, FD&C, sorbitol or the poten-

• October 10, 2020

tially dangerous titanium dioxide. According to Health Canada, the titanium dioxide is still under study as to its safety, so it has not been banned in this country. Sadly, it is allowed and yes, it makes the toothpaste look good. We know you want to whiten, brighten and polish your teeth. You want to remove stains and eliminate odourcausing bacteria. The mouth is a battleground. When choosing a tooth paste make it earthy. Nature can provide this for you. Our green really works. The cleansers are not meant to be swallowed but some will sneak on down. Make it healthy. We chose nutritious ingredients only, ecofriendly and AMAZING for the health of your teeth, your mouth AND your body. The taste is pleasant. Not overpowering. Refreshing. We added clay, neem, charcoal, turmeric. We added moringa, cinna-

mon, amala, all of which contribute to the khaki green. Our cleanser creation can be a bit of a challenge to use. We provide a small spatula for removal and it is easy to pop the cleanser right into the mouth and then proceed with your toothbrush You will note that the khaki green creates artistic sink splatters, but a warm water swish after usage is an easy habit to acquire. A customer once wrote to tell us that our tooth cleanser had passed muster with her two boys. I was thrilled and we both decided that they probably liked it because it WAS green and messy. I asked her to thank the boys for liking it, as I knew it was a new experience for them. Here is her reply, “When I got my little 7-year-old guy to try your tooth paste I had prepared the brush etc. and he tried it, but I wasn't sure what

would come of it. When he came home from school today, I told him that you had said thank you for trying the tooth paste. Well! He thought that was just so neat that the actual lady that made the tooth paste said that. I was just walking by the bathroom and there he was - he went in on his own and took

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the little spatula and scooped out some tooth paste onto his brush and brushed his teeth. When he was done he looked very happy and said to tell the lady that he did the whole thing himself this time. It just made my evening.” Heidi M, Ottawa ON It made our day too. Our Tooth Cleanser

continues to be popular, especially among the adventurous. We stand behind our products. We give great customer service.Visit us at natural.ca. Subscribe to our newsletter. Please take note of our opening hours: ‘La Boutique Earth to Body’, 89 Lucerne, Pointe Claire, QC H9R 2V1) Email info@natural.ca Store is Open: Tues,Wed,Thurs: 10-4

Due to COVID-19 please sign up for e-mail delivery - Stay safe! Ev ve en George gets with the times!

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