Montreal Times 26.21 January 9, 2021 by Montreal Times

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Vol. 26 No. 12

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Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal chooses Rafael Payare as its next music director (CNW Group/Orchestre symphonique de Montréal)

OSM chooses Rafael Payare as its next music director

The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) announced today that Rafael Payare will become its next Music Director, effective from the 2022-2023 season for a minimum of five years. Mr. Payare assumes the position of Music Director Designate from September 1, 2021, taking over from Maestro Kent Nagano, who held the position of Music Director from 2006 to 2020. Mr. Payare's debut with the Orchestra in 2018 was a hugely memorable occasion, and his natural rapport with the OSM musicians was immediate.This connection was reaffirmed on his return to the Orchestra in 2019. "It's an immense honour and a pleasure to have been chosen as the next Music Director of the fantastic Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. To be given the opportunity to work, create and explore new musical possibilities with the wonderful group of artists that is the OSM, is a hugely exciting prospect. It is my heartfelt wish that, in close synergy with the musicians, we can give the OSM's audience many moments of joy, pride and hope," said Rafael Payare. • January 9, 2021

Mr. Payare's appointment was unanimously endorsed by the selection committee for the OSM's next Music Director.The 11-member committee, which included three OSM musicians, was chaired by Suzanne Fortier, Principal and Vice-chancellor of McGill University. Rafael Payare, who is forty, is one of the most prominent and internationally soughtafter conductors of his generation. His innate musicianship, his brilliant technique and the charisma he radiates on the podium characterize his musical style and approach. Mr. Payare trained as a French horn player and graduated from the acclaimed music education program El Sistema. His talent was soon recognized by Maestro José Antonio Abreu, El Sistema's founder, with whom he began his formal studies in orchestral conducting in 2004. Since winning the prestigious Malko International Competition for Young Conductors in Denmark in 2012, Mr. Payare's career has advanced rapidly. From 2014 to 2019, he was Music Director of the Ulster Orchestra and since 2019 he has been Music Director of the San Diego Symwww.mtltimes.ca

phony. In recent years, he has conducted many of the world's most prestigious symphony orchestras, in, Berlin Vienna, London, Munich, Chicago and Paris, among others. Mr. Payare has been Principal Conductor of the Castleton Festival since 2015, which was founded by his mentor, the late Lorin Maazel. Rafael Payare, born in Venezuela, will become the ninth Music Director in the history of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, and the first conductor from the South American continent to hold this position. As artist-in-residence for the 2020-2021 season, Rafael Payare will conduct three OSM concerts that will be webcast in the coming weeks.The first of the three will be presented live this Sunday, January 10, starting at 2:30 p.m., and can be viewed free of charge at OSM.ca and Medici.tv. The next Music Director of the OSM will conduct Berlioz' Roman Carnival and Brahms' Symphony no. 1 in C minor, op. 68. 3

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Message to Canadians on COVID-19 Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General and Commander-inChief of Canada, released a video message to Canadians regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Dear fellow citizens, The past months have been dark and difficult, and we all know that it is not over yet. I appeal to your sense of duty today. Now is the time to show our strength as a nation, to remain steadfast and to stay united in our solidarity. Safe and efficient vaccines are now available, and there is a light shining at the end of the tunnel. But the pandemic is still raging and it will take time to immunize everyone. The priority goes to health care personnel, to the essential workers who keep our society going, to the elderly and most at-risk populations, and to people living in remote areas, particularly Indigenous communities. We must remain patient while the vaccines are distributed in an orderly fashion. In the meantime, it is of the utmost importance that we all stay vigilant and adhere strictly to the advice of our public health officials. We owe this to the front-line workers who have been fighting this virus selflessly for 10 long months. We owe it to our seniors, and to the families of those who have passed. We owe it to our loved ones, and to the loved ones of our friends and colleagues. Like you, I have had to adapt to these unprecedented circumstances. As a scientist,

I take epidemic outbreaks very seriously, and that is why we closed Rideau Hall at the outset of the pandemic to ensure the safety of our staff and the health of our visitors. Like you, I have strictly minimized contacts other than through digital means. Besides the duties that require my presence—such as granting Royal Assent to bills in Ottawa or paying tribute to fallen members of the Canadian Armed Forces in Halifax and Trenton—my movements have been, and will continue to be, restricted to essential work and to my personal duties as the mother of a teenager, and as the daughter and caregiver of elderly parents. We all need to contribute and to try to

make the best out of the situation, even if the public health restrictions are hard.This is not the time to let our guard down. Every single one of us has a role to play in fighting the virus. We Canadians have shown that we have this collective resilience. Please, for the good of all, stay home except for necessities and essential work, and minimize your travels and contacts. We are in this together and we will meet again. Stay put. Stay distanced. Please take care. Happy New Year! Julie Payette

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New pre-departure COVID-19 testing requirements come into effect for all air travellers flying into Canada The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global crisis that is having a significant impact on the air industry and all travellers. The Government of Canada has multiple measures in place to protect the health and safety of Canadians, and to help prevent air travel from being a source of further introduction and spread of COVID-19 and new variants of the virus into Canada. Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Marc Garneau, issued an Interim Order formalizing new COVID-19 testing requirements for all air travellers coming to Canada, and providing additional guidance to airline operators and the travelling public regarding the new pre-departure testing requirement that was announced on December 31. This Interim Order supports COVID-19 health requirements made by Canada's Minister of Health under the Quarantine Act. Effective midnight on January 7, 2021 (00:00 EST or 05:00 UCT), regardless of citizenship, all travellers five years of age or older must provide proof of a negative laboratory test result for COVID-19 to the airline prior to boarding a flight to Canada. The test must be performed using one of two types of COVID-19 tests–either a molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or Loop-mediated Isothermal Am-

plification (LAMP)–and must be conducted within 72 hours of the traveller's scheduled departure to Canada. All travellers coming to Canada must present this information at the time of boarding. Failure to do so will mean an automatic denial of boarding by the airline operating the flight to Canada. Once travellers arrive in Canada, Canada Border Services officers will question and observe them for any indication that they may be ill. These travellers will be referred to Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) officials for further assessment, screening and questioning. Officers will apply great scrutiny to travellers' quarantine plans while ensuring that they are admissible to Canada. PHAC works closely with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and provincial law enforcement agencies to verify the compliance of returning travellers. At the outset, there are time-limited flexibilities for travellers departing from some countries in recognition of the need for testing systems to adjust.Travellers departing from Saint Pierre et Miquelon are exempt from the requirement to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test until January 1, and travellers departing from Haiti, until January 21, 2021, but they are strongly encouraged to get a COVID-19 test once they arrive in www.mtltimes.ca

Canada. Travellers departing from the Caribbean or South America can use tests conducted within 96 hours of departure (instead of 72 hours) until January 14, 2021. Travellers with planned flights to Canada are strongly encouraged to take note of this information, in order to be compliant with the requirements, and to avoid being refused boarding by the airline. Anyone who receives a negative test result and is authorized to enter Canada must still complete the full, mandatory 14-day quarantine, unless exempted under the Quarantine Act. Travellers are reminded that ongoing vigilance is still required. In addition to completing their full quarantine period, returning travellers must monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and submit information electronically through ArriveCAN. If symptoms develop, even if mild, or a positive test for COVID-19 is received once in Canada, travellers are advised to contact local public health authorities. All existing restrictions to travel to Canada from the United States and other countries by foreign nationals remain in place.The Government of Canada continues to enforce and strengthen those measures as needed, and as the global situation evolves. January 9, 2021 •

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Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada

As the resurgence of COVID-19 activity continues in Canada, we are tracking a range of epidemiological indicators to monitor where the disease is most active, where it is spreading and how it is impacting the health of Canadians and public health, laboratory and healthcare capacity. The following is the latest summary on national numbers and trends, and the actions we all need to be taking to maintain COVID-19 at manageable levels across the country. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 626,799 cases of COVID-19, including 16,369 deaths reported in Canada; these cumulative numbers tell us about the overall burden of COVID-19 illness to date. Though many areas continue to experience high infection rates, it is important to remember that the vast majority of Canadians remain susceptible to COVID-19. This is why it is important for everyone to continue with individual precautions to protect ourselves, our families and our communities. In addition to laboratories across Canada conducting testing to confirm COVID-19 infections, the Public Health Agency of Canada's (PHAC) National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) conducts routine genomic sequencing on approximately five per cent of virus samples. Given the recent emergence of COVID-19 virus variants of concern, which appear to be associated with an increased risk of spread, PHAC has been working with provinces, territories and international partners to enhance monitoring for the presence of any virus variants in Canada. To date, provinces and territories have reported 11 cases of a virus variant first reported in the United Kingdom and 0 reports of any other variants of concern, including a variant first reported in South Africa. Given these virus variants have been reported in multiple countries, the Government of Canada continues to advise Canadians against non-essential travel outside of Canada and are advising extra caution if you must travel to countries where a variant of concern is circulating. In addition to Canada's current travel and border measures, which include mandatory 14-day quarantine, new pre-departure COVID-19 testing requirements were introduced today as an additional layer to reduce new introductions of the virus and limit the

Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Tam spread of COVID-19 in Canada. Documentation of a negative laboratory test result for COVID-19 must be presented to the airline prior to departing for Canada for all air travellers five years of age or older. The test must be performed using a COVID-19 molecular test within 72 hours prior to boarding a flight to Canada. With the current momentum of the epidemic and continued high rates of infection in many areas of the country, rapid accumulation of cases will continue until we can make significant progress in interrupting spread. At this time, there are 79,203 active cases across the country. The latest national-level data indicate daily averages of 7,688 new cases (Dec 31 - Jan 6). COVID19 is spreading among people of all ages, with high infection rates across all age groups. However, nationally, infection rates remain highest among those aged 80 years and older who are at highest risk for severe outcomes. Likewise, outbreaks continue to occur in high-risk populations and communities, including hospitals and long term care homes, correctional facilities, congregate living settings, Indigenous communities, and more remote areas of the country. The downstream impacts of weeks and months of elevated disease activity continues to be seen in still rising numbers of severe illness and

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death, significant disruptions to health services and ongoing challenges for areas not adequately equipped to manage complex medical emergencies. Nationally, hospitalisations and deaths, which tend to lag behind increased disease activity by one to several weeks are still increasing. Provincial and territorial data indicate that an average of 4,085 people with COVID-19 were being treated in Canadian hospitals each day during the most recent 7-day period (Dec 31 - Jan 6), including 767 of whom were being treated in intensive care units. During the same period, there were an average of 128 COVID-19-related deaths reported daily.This situation continues to burden local healthcare resources, particularly in areas where infection rates are highest. These impacts affect everyone, as the healthcare workforce and health system bear a heavy strain, important elective medical procedures are delayed or postponed, adding to pre-existing backlogs. While we continue to prepare the way for widespread and lasting control of COVID-19 through safe and effective vaccines, Canada needs a collective effort, from public health authorities and individuals, as a range of public health measures and restrictions are implemented to interrupt rapid spread of the virus. Canadians are urged to continue following local public health advice and to consistently maintain individual practices that keep us and our families safer: stay home/self-isolate if you have any symptoms, follow local public health advice and maintain individual protective practices of physical distancing, hand, cough and surface hygiene and wearing a face mask as appropriate (including when you can not consistently keep two metres apart from people outside your immediate household). Canadians can also go the extra mile by sharing credible information on COVID-19 risks and prevention practices and measures to reduce COVID-19 in communities and by downloading the COVID Alert app to break the cycle of infection and help limit the spread of COVID-19. Read my backgrounder to access more COVID-19 Information and Resources on ways to reduce the risks and protect yourself and others.

January 9, 2021 â&#x20AC;˘

â&#x20AC;¢ January 9, 2021

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Book Reviews - mtltimes.ca

Hockey’s Hot Stove by Al Strachan Veteran sports writer and columnist Al Strachan candidly admits that hockey is Canada’s national sport (next to lacrosse) and for nearly 90 years on radio and television, “Hockey Night in Canada” (HNIC) played as large a part in elevating hockey to such an iconic level in our country. And to peel the onion even further, the “Hot Stove” segment of those broadcasts helped to further solidify hockey in the national conscience.

By Stuart Nulman mtltimes.ca “Hockey Night in Canada has been the #1 show in Canada for years. And the Hot Stove has become a major part of that major part. It gave Canadians an introduction to its players, as well as an insight to how the game is played. It made the audience feel that they were part of the game. It broke down barriers between the viewers and the viewed,” said Strachan during a recent phone interview from his home in South Florida. And Strachan ought to know about how both HNIC and the Hot Stove segment played such a significant role in making hockey Canada’s national sport. A former columnist for the Toronto Star, the Globe & Mail, the Montreal Gazette and even the late, lamented Sunday Express, he spent a good part of 20 years as one of the regular commentators of the modern day version of the segment that was called the “Satellite Hot Stove”. He shared the electronic stage with a number of retired players and fellow sports writers and broadcasters, as they expressed their opinions and off-the-ice inside information about the world of pro hockey to millions of devoted viewers every Saturday night during HNIC’s second intermission. As well, Strachan’s involvement also gave him a first-hand look at the politics, massive egos, the dog-eat-dog tensions and the war of wits between broadcasters and broadcast executives that slowly ate away at these two Canadian sports casting institutions. And he offers plenty of on camera and off camera insights in his new book Hockey’s Hot Stove. Historically speaking, the Satellite Hot Stove evolved from the original Hot Stove League, which had its roots during HNIC’s radio days of the 1930s, where legendary 10

sports writers like Montreal’s Elmer Ferguson and Hall of Fame retired players like the Maple Leafs’ Syl Apps would gather round to talk hockey every week.The name came from a practice that was common in small Canadian towns before radio became a mass medium, in which men would gather round a wood burning stove (which was placed in the middle of a room whether it be in a home, general store or barber shop) and would talk about hockey as the stove gradually got hotter and hotter, therefore supplying the only central source of heat for that dwelling during a cold Canadian winter. As Strachan tells in the book, many sports writers and broadcasters saw the potential of what appearing as a Hot Stove panelist can mean to their careers, and many of them would beg for a tryout; however, the majority of those aspiring Hot Stovers would fall into the “many are called, few are chosen” category. “For most part, sports media people are very egotistical, and they think they are the most important person in the world, which is why they wanted to take part in the highest rated segment on the number one rated TV show in Canada. They felt it was the elite level of Canadian television,” he said. “Those tryouts were done on the air during a Hot Stove broadcast. If they did a major error, they would not be called back. Also, they weren’t good TV people who didn’t perform well in that medium, or viewers would express that they didn’t like a certain panelist.” The book is filled with a lot of highly entertaining stories of what it was like to be a regular panelist on the Satellite Hot Stove segment, and Strachan is not afraid to show his honesty and bash the politics that went on in the world of sports broadcasting, particularly how the CBC handled the Hot Stove and HNIC as a cash cow, and the callous nature of how CBC executives treated many of the on air personalities, especially when they were let go from the program because the network was “looking for a new direction”. But Strachan enjoyed being part of the Hot Stove segment for two main reasons. One was how it gave him the opportunity to transmit major breaking hockey stories, thereby scooping the hockey beat writers. “There were never really any bad moments when I did the Hot Stove. I prefer to remember the better stories, like when I told for the first time that the Atlanta Thrashers were about to move to Winnipeg, or when Wayne Gretzky was about to be traded to St. Louis from L.A., or when Tampa Bay Lightning owner Barry Melrose went to the team’s locker room one night to tell the players how to play hockey,” he remembers. Another reason was the sheer enjoyment of doing the segment, and the widespread camaraderie that developed between the panelists. “Whenever we were on the road, www.mtltimes.ca

we would meet for dinner every Friday night,” he said. “Legendary sportscaster Brian McFarlane would join us, and he would always bring a tape recorder with him, which he would put on the table and record our conversations. Many of those recorded conversations later ended up as material for his books.” However, Strachan attributes the success and lasting legacy of the Hot Stove to the always increased desire of the fans to know more about hockey than what they would read in the papers or watch on a TV newscast. “In a way, we were catering to the human desire for gossip; tell them what went on or what they didn’t see,” he said. “Give them all kinds of the things they like to know that they usually didn’t get to know.” And diehard hockey fans will get plenty of the above when they read Hockey’s Hot Stove. Al Strachan gives an unabashed, brutally honest and entertaining look at what really went on behind and in front of the camera of this vital piece of hockey broadcasting, which he affectionately referred to as “The Circus”. Whether it be Ron MacLean’s unpredictability when it came to choosing who spoke first during a segment, or such unsung heroes like John Shannon and Kathy Broderick (who made the Hot Stove tick despite all the always constant pre- and post-show pressures), the many road stories, or the CBC’s 11th-hour battle to avert losing the broadcasting rights of HNIC to CTV, this book certainly doesn’t disappoint in its mission to tell the good, the bad and the ugly side of broadcasting the world of the NHL to its millions of fans every week between October and June. So get the fireplace stoked up this winter, and prepared to be throttled (and amply informed) by Hockey’s Hot Stove. January 9, 2021 •

Quebec four week lockdown and mandatory curfew The Quebec government has just announced a one month lockdown for most businesses and a mandatory curfew from 8 pm to 5 am starting January 9th. "Unfortunately we have lost this race in the last few weeks. But we can win it," said Quebec Premier François Legault. "The upcoming month is going to be a critical one. We are in a race against time." The new Quebec lockdown rules and curfew are: • A Quebec wide curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

• Fines when curfew is broken is between $1,500 to $6,000 • Non-essential businesses will stay closed however, curbside pickup is allowed • Restaurants, gyms, theatres will stay closed • All non-essential businesses will stay closed • Elementary schools will open as planned on January 11, 2021 - Students in grade 5 and 6 will be required to wear face masks • High schools will stay closed until January 18th, 2021

• Daycares stay open • Grocery stores and depanneurs will close at 7:30 p.m. • Construction and manufacturing will not be closed The Quebec government expects to vaccinate 250,000 people by early February when the Premier plans to lift some of the restrictions he has made mandatory today. The province also plans on vaccinating people over 80 years of age by middle of February.

Canadian Coast Guard begins annual icebreaking operations on the Great Lakes The Canadian Coast Guard's annual icebreaking season on the Great Lakes, which provides assistance to the shipping industry, is underway. Working in partnership with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) District 9, the Canadian Coast Guard has two icebreakers assigned to the Great Lakes for the entire winter season: CCGS Griffon and CCGS Samuel Risley. These vessels are supported as required by additional Coast Guard vessels during the spring icebreaking season. This icebreaking season is different than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Coast Guard is working closely with organizations and governments, industry, and other partners to make decisions based on the best advice and guidance available from federal, provincial, and municipal health authorities. Coast Guard continues to maintain normal levels of operation during the COVID-19 pandemic, while following strict National Standard Operating Procedures to prevent the spread of the virus. This includes extra sanitation practices for all Coast Guard crew, such as frequent handwashing, appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and enhanced cleaning protocols onboard vessels. Icebreaking requests are coordinated by Coast Guard's Icebreaking Office in Montreal, along with the USCG. Daily operational conference calls are held between industry representatives and Coast Guard officials, who provide updates from both countries about ice extent, concentration, and thickness. Ice condition updates are provided by Environment and Climate Change Canada, and also gathered from ice reconnaissance flights, using both Canadian and United States Coast Guard helicopters. Marine Communications and Traffic Services in Sarnia, ON, and Prescott, ON, are in contact with mariners 24-hours-a-day providing information, managing marine traffic, and responding to calls for assistance.Win• January 9, 2021

ter maritime search and rescue operations are coordinated by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton, ON. Coast Guard icebreakers and other vessels may be called upon to help. Aircraft from the Department of National Defence and USCG are also involved in maritime search and rescue operations, as necessary. In addition to icebreaking for the shipping industry, both Coast Guards work to prevent the formation of ice jams and flooding in communities. Problems occur when ice accumulates and blocks the flow of a river. That obstruction, known as an ice jam or ice plug, can cause flooding as water builds www.mtltimes.ca

up and overflows the banks. Coast Guard ships are also at the ready to respond to environmental incidents or other urgent or humanitarian emergencies. All ice surface users should plan their ice activities carefully, use caution on the ice, and avoid shipping lanes and icebreaking operations. Broken and fragmented ice tracks and ridging left behind by passing icebreakers or commercial vessels may not freeze over immediately. This can result in hazardous conditions for ice users. In addition, newly fallen snow will obscure ship tracks. Unsafe ice conditions can persist long after icebreakers have left the area. 11

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January 9, 2021 â&#x20AC;¢

New support for organizations hosting free tax clinics The Canada Revenue Agency recognizes the value of free tax clinics that help Canadians do their taxes so they can get the benefit and credits they are entitled to.We also know the costs of running these clinics can be a challenge for organizations who want to participate. To support these organizations, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, is pleased to announce that the CRA will invest more than $10 million over three years in a new grant program to help organizations offset some of their costs. The program will also be available to organizations in Quebec that host clinics through the Income Tax Assistance – Volunteer Program in collaboration with Revenu Quebec. Currently, community organizations that run tax clinics must cover the costs, which increase as the clinics help more and more Canadians complete their income tax and benefit returns. Expenses include such things as office stationery, printers, document shredders and many other incidental expenses to support their dedicated volunteers. Recognizing the challenges of COVID-19, related costs including personal protective equipment, sanitation supplies, and plexiglass dividers will also be covered under the grant program.The CRA expects that the grant program will make the work for these free tax clinics a little easier and encourage more organizations to sign up. This will let them help more taxpayers to file their tax returns. Starting in February 2021, organizations • January 9, 2021

that plan to apply for the grant need to track their tax clinic expenses and the number of tax returns that their volunteers complete.The CRA will start accepting applications in May 2021. This pilot project will run for three years. To learn more about the CVITP grant program, visit canada.ca/free-tax-clinics-grant. Quick Facts • During the 2019-2020 program year, more than 18,970 volunteers and 3,810 community organizations filed over 467,500 tax returns for individuals across Canada and helped over 407,410 individuals. Since May 2020, an additional 180,000

tax returns have been filed through virtual tax clinics. • Volunteer tax programs help people with modest incomes and a simple tax situation who are looking for support during tax season. • Trained volunteers prepare income tax and benefit returns free of charge. For virtual clinics, this can be done by videoconference, by phone or through a document drop-off arrangement. • The CRA is working with partner organizations to make sure these virtual clinics are safe and secure and that private information is protected.

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Book Reviews - mtltimes.ca

My Favorite Books of 2020

For 13 years, the first Book Banter column of the new year always meant taking one last look at the year before and see which books stood out for me over the previous 12 months. This past year, like ever other year, I read an average of 50 books, so that it can be reviewed in the pages of The Montreal Times practically every week (and twice a month on Peter Anthony Holder’s “Stuph File Program” podcast). Choosing a book to review is always done through a personal process of elimination, and that same process is done as I decided which were my favorite books of 2020. This year’s top-selling books chiefly focused on three categories: race relations, the corona virus and Donald Trump. When it comes to the latter category, I quickly learned that any book that was favorable to the 45th President of the United States, or a memoir written by a loyal aide or staff member, ended up gathering dust on a book store shelf. On the other hand, any book that was strongly critical of the Trump administration ended up selling mass quantities of copies and topping many bestseller lists. And what was the top selling book of the year? A Promised Land, the first book of a two-volume presidential memoir by Barak Obama.Within a week of its November 17 release, it sold nearly two million copies and as of this writing, is still in the #1 spot on the New York Times nonfiction list. Professional Heckler by Terry Mosher -This is my choice for book of the year.Terry “Aislin” Mosher is not only an award-winning, highly respected political cartoonist whose pointed cartoons dominated the pages of The Montreal Gazette for over 50 years, he has also become an expert on the subject of the history of political cartooning and the people who took up the pen to express their opinions on the issues of the day. With that in mind, Mosher’s latest book is an illustrated biography of the man who raised the bar high for political cartoonists in Canada: the late Duncan Macpherson, who made the Toronto Star his canvas, where he poked fun at every prime minister from Diefenbaker to Mulroney and every relevant issue that shaped Canada for five decades.Thanks to unlimited access to Macpherson’s archives and interviews with his family and surviving colleagues and friends, the book is a fitting tribute to the life and art of the legendary cartoonist who became a towering influence, not to mention quite a roguish character who got thrown out of the Toronto Press Club more times than any other individual. The Answer Is… by Alex Trebek - Many fans – and contestants past and present – of the quiz show Jeopardy were saddened by the death of its host Alex Trebek this past fall after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 80. Luckily, besides the thousands of Jeopardy broadcasts he hosted since 1984, Trebek has left us his autobiography as living testimonies of his vast contributions to the world of television. From his beginnings in the mining town of Sudbury, Ontario, to his broadcasting apprenticeship on the CBC, to the many game shows he helmed before Jeopardy, Trebek tells his story with a great deal of humour, warmth and honesty. And fans of the show get a first-hand look at what goes on behind the scenes, his take on some of Jeopardy’s greatest contestants, as well as offering reflections that dealt with his valiant battle with cancer. The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson - In an address to the British people in 1940, the newlyappointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill, stated that the effort that the British government and its people were committed themselves towards defeating the Nazis would be its “finest hour”. However, Churchill’s first year as prime minister that led to that “finest hour” was filled with challenges he had to face not only because of an impending Nazi invasion, but also the slings and arrows that he had to deflect, which were fired by the loyal opposition and members of his war cabinet. Erik Larson, who has written best selling historical accounts of the sinking of the Lusitania and the devastating Galveston hurricane of 1900, brings Britain’s most fateful year in his latest book. What I liked is how Larson traces every aspect of the events of that year – both known and not-so-known – as Churchill bravely faced what could have been a 14

dire situation for Britain, and prepared himself and his country towards a long-fought victory that many in Berlin and London thought would make him go down in defeat. Rage by Bob Woodward, Too Much and Not Enough by Mary Trump - Hoax by Brian Stelter, and A Very Stable Genius by Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig. The reason why these critical books about Donald Trump are grouped together into a single category is that I believe each one played its part collectively towards the downfall

By Stuart Nulman mtltimes.ca of the Trump presidency in a major fashion. Whether it be his outlandish behaviour as commander-in-chief in the White House, his relationship with Fox News that turned the cable news channel into an example of state-run media, or his dysfunctional family roots, these books showed in vivid details some of the aspects that shaped Trump’s character, and how his out-of-thebox approach to the presidency tore out the wires of many long-held government institutions and traditions, and possibly will rank him as THE worst president in American history. Creature Feature by Steven Paul Leiva - In a dazzling tribute to baby boomer era pop culture, Steven Paul Leiva’s latest novel reads like a typical episode of The Twilight Zone. It focuses on Kathy Anderson, who in 1962 has gained fame hosting a popular monster movie show on a Chicago TV station.Tired of the daily grind of local TV, she decides to leave the Windy City for the Great White Way of Broadway. During her long drive, she makes a pit stop at her home town of Placidville, which she quickly realizes that the town and its people are somehow not the same when she left years before. Rod Serling would be proud of the way Leiva tells this baby boomer era story gone horribly wrong, which would have made him wish he wrote it himself. Definitely a retro treat for those who grew up watching their own locallyproduced “Creature Feature” TV shows and read stacks of science fiction pulp magazines and copies of Famous Monsters of Filmland. The Butcher of Park Ex by Andreas Kessaris -No matter when or where you spent your formative years, you will always have a soft spot for the suburb or neighborhood where you grew up. For Montreal book reviewer Andres Kessaris, he spent his younger years in the northeast Montreal district of Park Extension (aka Park Ex). His memories of life in this culturally-diverse area is fondly recalled in his literary debut, a collection of personal stories called The Butcher of Park Ex. Whether it be family matters, observing cultural traditions, high school high jinx or first jobs, Kessaris recounts such incidents of his life with a great deal of humour and heartbreak, as many of the stories end up not the way he hoped it would. You may think that Kessaris was like a sad sack during his younger years, but his excellent storytelling talents is a great way to face and conquer that sad sack feeling. Montreal Recorder’s Court 1906 by Robert N. Wilkins - Montreal historian Robert N.Wilkins has this knack of excavating many lesser known facts and incidents that make up the hidden history of this city. And he has done it again with flying colours with his latest book.This time,Wilkins fowww.mtltimes.ca

cuses on a year in the life of the Montreal Recorder’s Court to find out the type of petty crimes that constantly filled its docket, whether they be health violations, truancy, prostitution, theft and even the first recorded automobile fatality in Montreal. How does he do it? By doing a great deal of diligent research the old fashioned way, by manually digging through reams of documentation and files to see which cases would make it to the book. It’s a fascinating, gritty and somewhat sad portrait of the seamy side of Montreal, and how justice was meted out on a daily basis during the Edwardian Era. Fight the Fear by Jeffrey Gurian - This is the first book that I have reviewed that is available as downloadable e-book. And I am glad it was from remarkable individual and longtime friend Jeffrey Gurian, who is quite the renaissance man; not only is he a veteran comedy blogger and vlogger, he is also a comedy writer, a stand-up comedian, a licensed dentist and lecturer on holistic healing. His latest book deals with how one can realistically confront their fears and what can be done to fight them so that they do not rule your life. Instead of using complicated medical and psychological jargon, Gurian uses reader-friendly principles towards accomplishing this goal, as well as personal anecdotes on how he conquered his own fears (the chapters on his time at dental school and when he travelled by himself to Japan and Italy are alone worth the price of the book, which is also available in paperback). Always Remembered by Danny Gallagher - It’s been 17 years since the Montreal Expos pulled up stakes to move south to Washington, D.C. and transform into the Washington Nationals; yet the team that we have referred to as “Nos Amours” from 1969 to 2004 have always remained in the hearts and minds of its multitude of fans ever since.Author Danny Gallagher has a deep love for the Expos, which has transcended to several books about the team. Always Remembered is his latest tome, in which he collects his cherished memories about the Expos and its colorful players.There are familiar stories and stories that are being told for the first time, including how a University of Michigan prospect was drafted by the Expos, but preferred the football route towards a successful athletic career; his name: Tom Brady. This book once again reinforces how much we miss our Expos. Toe Blake by Paul Logothetis - When Montreal sports fans think of the late Hector “Toe” Blake, three things come to mind: his popular tavern on St. Catherine Street, as one-third of the Canadiens’ “Punch Line” of the 1940s, and as the driven coach who led the Habs to eight Stanley Cup championships during his 13 years behind the bench. After that, there is nothing much. Thankfully, Paul Logothetis’ biography, the first full-length book about Blake, fills in all the blanks quite effectively. We get to see the private Toe Blake, whose drive to make the Montreal Canadiens a powerful force in the NHL almost wrecked his health, and how he handled his post-coaching years when the cheering stopped for him.A mustread for hockey fans everywhere. The Eighth Wonder of the World by Bertrand Hebert and Pat Laprade - Andre Roussimoff grew up in a farm in rural France, the son of Polish immigrants. He was taller and bigger than his siblings thanks to a hormonal disorder called acromegaly. But he didn’t let that stop him from becoming a literal giant of the pro wrestling world, changing his name first to Giant Jean Ferre and then Andre the Giant, and becoming a superstar of the mat in Japan, England, Montreal and the United States. Hebert and Laprade, who have become authorities on the world of pro wrestling, has produced a gargantuan biography that tells the real story behind this wrestling legend. Two things that you take away from this book are that wrestling was Andre’s life (until health problems forced him to retire from the ring in the late 80s) and that he was a man who appreciated good friends, good times and a good party. This book is the type of book that is fitting for a person who was a true giant of a man in more ways than one. And that takes care of 2020. Have a great pageturning 2021. January 9, 2021 •

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Movie Reviews - mtltimes.ca

Kat (Elizabeth Debicki) would be an essential piece for The Protagonist's (John David Washington) mission

TENET Spies from the future

This film, directed by Christopher Nolan, was supposed to be one of the big titles of 2020. The pandemic limited its release to only a few movie theatres, and for a short time. Now "Tenet" is available on various streaming services, and, the big question, of course, is whether the anticipation caused by the movie was justified. A big explosion in the Kyiv opera unleashes the events that lead us to the main character, aptly known only as The Protagonist (John David Washington), a CIA agent whose mission is to get a device known as a MacGuffin. Protagonist's partner is Neil (Robert Pattison) with whom he would try to get to a mysterious Russian, Sator (Kenneth Branagh) who also happens to be the villain.These CIA agents also have other capabilities that provide the movie's essential ingredient: they can travel in time using a technology called "inversion." However, their enemies also share that capacity. The movie's title plays with that notion: “tenet” could be read forward and backward, i.e. ten minutes backward, ten minutes ahead. The technology would involve people and objects' ability to travel backwards in time by reversing their entropy.Thus, we see bullets reversing their course, for instance.The 16

By Sergio Martinez mtltimes.ca

most telling—and chaotic—demonstration of this time reversal is seen in one of the final scenes when two armies are battling one in the future the other in the past. The search for Sator leads the Protagonist to ask the assistance of a well-connected Brit played by not other than Michael Caine who suggests that the way to get to the Russian is through his wife, Kat (Elizabeth Debicki) a sad and oppressed woman. Things won't be easy though: Sator distrusts everybody.Although www.mtltimes.ca

the Protagonist will manage to get close to him and the precious object he has been assigned to get, new factors emerge and complicate his mission. One no small new issue, the existence of the world itself is at stake. "Tenet" is an exciting movie to watch, although at times it is almost impossible to follow the plot. Dialogues with noise in the background don't help much either. Perhaps the most interesting aspect is the concept of the movie itself, the notion of time travelling, while the elements of international intrigue add to the movie's attraction. On the other hand, the reiterative scenes of fights and the car chases and clashes on the highway are not particularly original. This movie is good entertainment, with lots of action and some doses of violence too. Perhaps the attempt to make it somehow a more cerebral film may have failed though. In any case, the viewer should be very attentive not to become lost while following some dialogues, especially when the story seems to wander in many directions. "Tenet" is available on Bell and other videoon-demand providers. Running time: 2:30 hrs January 9, 2021 •

The X Pack: Harmony in Skin care Let’s get serious here. Itching can drive us crazy. Skin care should be a ‘pleasing arrangeBy Martha Shannon mtltimes.ca

ments of balanced parts’, a harmonious experience. Not a scratching frenzy. Take our X pack’ trio. It plays well together, working wonders on the skin. An ‘O Sole mio’ in the shower. A return to normalcy. The trio: A soap, a rinse, a cream Christy from Toronto loves the trio: “My husband had itchy, red, painful eczema on his scalp. None of the prescription creams worked like the X pack products. His skin immediately felt better and in a few weeks the symptoms were gone. The X pack is naturally magical!” We missed you all in person this year. But we do have the past

• January 9, 2021

memories. At a Vancouver show, a young man, new 4 years to Canada, entered our booth and displayed the saddest hands I have ever seen. The right hand suffered most, but both were bleeding and cracked. I glanced up and said “You have been using Dove soap, Head and Shoulders and Cortisone cream, haven’t you?” His eyes popped, “How did you know that?” “Canada loves them. They are popular, but are not for everyone.” I empathized. He left with the trio, promising to return in 3 days to show me the results. Sure enough a smiling convert returned with buddies in tow. “It is the first time in years that I have seen healthy skin on my hands.” He was beaming and even a little teary eyed. “While the trio works wonders, what you stopped using was just as important a step to clearing your skin!“ I said.

“Good for you.” The ESP shampoo / soap bar is perfection in simplicity. An easy cleanse from head to toe. The favourite of all bars. The Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse works in harmony with the soap and is probably the best natural hair conditioner. It detangles, shines, nourishes and cleanses. It restores the skin’s PH to normal, a preventative atmosphere to skin invaders.Think of it as your self-defense. One of nature’s true gifts. The cream is the pièce de résistance “Where’s the X cream?” she cried. Please tell me you still sell it?” This energized lady was circling the booth frantic to find the cream. “I was here last year and my eyelids were so dry and itchy and you sampled me a little cream and I then ran around shopping ITCH FREE. I wear it all over my face. It’s a miracle.”

she shouted. I need more.” She left, enthusiastically, with the trio. The X cream is not just any ‘run of the mill’ moisturizer. The Calendula, Comfrey and Black Spruce sing volumes. Black Spruce is a unique addition. Who better to ask than Canada’s own indigenous people who

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employed Black Spruce in many concoctions for centuries.? Well trusted and tested. The trio: the soap, the rinse, the cream. All made from scratch, no premade bases. Made with you in mind. Make the X pack part of your skin’s harmony. We stand behind our

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