Last week I had the good fortune of enjoying a full access media pass to the Montreal Canadiens game against the Utah Mammoth at the Bell Centre. While it is indeed exciting to get up close and personal with the head coach and players, thanks to the fabulous Crave TV series The Rebuild: Inside the Montreal Canadiens, the average fan can now feel as if they too are in the press box.
Produced by Groupe Fair-Play, season two of the documentary series is now streaming. It follows the Habs throughout the 2024-25 season, from hitting the bottom of the standings to rising to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The unprecedented access to players, coaches, and executives is any hockey fan’s dream. I spoke with producer Karine Proulx last week who told me she is very hopeful a season three will be greenlit. TSN 690’s Mitch Gallo told me he has already done some filming for if and when it is renewed.
Major storylines include the arrival of Patrik Laine, head coach Martin St-Louis (if you do not like your kids being exposed to expletitives, parental guidance is recommended when he tries to pump his players up).
President of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton and General Manager Kent Hughes are shown working together every step of the way. I especially found the inside information on sniper Cole Caulfield’s decision to switch sweater numbers from 22 to 13 as a tribute to the late Johnny Gaudreau. This was no simple switch. The team even needed permission from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. Why? Well, for starters, the Canadiens had 6,000 number 22 Caulfield jerseys, not to mention t-shirts and other items. In fact, 2,100 more jerseys were on the way. This all added up to a big dollar amount. Caulfield did get the green light. The team had to liquidate the old ones. As a concession he agreed to sign over 1,800 of them.
The series goes into the homes of Arber and Florian Xhekaj, Lane Hutson with his visiting mom Julie, Patrik and Jordan Lainie and Alex Newhook. We are patched into Hughes and Gorton calling Brendan Gallagher to express their condolences on the passing of his mom. The spouses of the players confide their nervousness during trade deadline.
Local media play a big role, including show hosts Gallo, Sean Campbell, play by play man Victor Findlay and Tony Marinaro. George Stroumboulopoulos narrates the English edition of the show; actor Marc-André Grondin the French.
Team owner Geoff Molson and President of Sports and Entertainment for Groupe CH, Marie France Belanger, get a lot of camera time. So do VP of Marketing Jon Trzcienski and VP of Content Strategy and Commercial Marketing Shauna Denis, a former player for the McGill Women’s Hockey Team, who has been with the Habs for almost 18 years. They are shown in a lot of strategic meetings. What is it like in the press box? Scroll through my Instagram reel for a tour.
BLOCKBUSTER SALE: The Collectibles are two shops, one in the main lobby and the other in Pavillion K at the Jewish General Hospital. All merchandise is donated (including the wrapping paper and bags) whereupon members clean and repair them and then resell. The team researches the actual value and then discount the price greatly! In 10 plus years this venture has brought in more than $1 million. They have everything from fine china, crystal, silver, ceramics, glassware, figurines, brass, pewter, art, painting, knickknacks, frames, lamps, clocks, candlesticks, holiday décor and more. “We discover incredible pieces such as a teacup with an online value of $750 or an Italian Capodimonte ceramic figurine or ancient Japanese vase,” says committee member Gloria Leckner. “Then again, we have many items for $5,$10 and $20! The merchandise changes almost daily. All the work is done by volunteers such as myself. It is a truly a worthwhile cause. There are some amazing stories that come with the items donated. For instance a lady who was in long term care for months at the JGH and came to shop every few days to buy something for her room to make herself feel good. When she passed away, she left instructions that all the items be returned to Collectibles to resell again.”
A look at the type of items available at the JGH Auxiliary blockbuster sale.
Now you can take advantage of the JGH Auxiliary Collectibles shops blockbuster sale Wed. Nov. 19 and Thursday, Nov. 20 from 9 am to 3 pm. There will be top quality merchandise at bargain basement prices. It will all take place at the Leah Polansky Hall/ the main Cafeteria area off of Cote St. Catherine. All proceeds will go towards purchasing items to benefit and comfort all JGH patients.
FILM FESTIVAL: The Zensa Media International Film Festival wll take place Dec. 4 (7 pm to 10 pm) at the De La Seve Theatre at Concordia (1400 de Maisonneuve Blvd W) and online Dec. 5 and 6. Tickets for this eighth edition include a fantastic show of films/documentaries, an exclusive holiday meet and greet/networking with light refreshments and yearly festival raffle. I am honored to share that I have been chosen receive the Media Figure Award. Zensa’s Seema Arora and actress Edith-Cecilia Varga will rock the stage as emcees. Some international filmmakers will be on hand. A portion of ticket sales will go towards the Sun Youth Organization. Log on to https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/zensa-media-inc-120097239821
ROED: Last week I met Tara Bissett at the Dollard des Ormeaux Holiday Market and Arts Fair. She was one of the volunteers steering folks like me in the crowd in the right direction. I was reminded that she was an actress I had written about in the past. Tara sent me a link to a short film she wrote and starred in. It is called Roed. On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending nearly 50 years of federal constitutional protections for abortion rights and returning the authority to regulate abortion to individual states. This film dives into the implications of travel bans, focusing on the resilience and courage of those standing up for reproductive freedom. Shooting took place in Ormstown in 2023. Its first showing was at the Montreal Actra Short Film Festival (winning best film & best director for Dawn Lambing). It’s been shown at several festivals, most recently in LA in September (winning audience choice). It has also won a humanitarian award from one of the California festivals. “We self-financed it,” said Bissett. “I am very proud to say we got it done for under $2,000 with an amazing team. We’ve completed the festival run, though still doing screenings.”
The nearly 10 minute movie all takes place on a roadside when two cops pull Bissett’s vehicle over. They are looking for women crossing state lines for an abortion. Actor Shawn Baichoo portrays an evil police officer. “He is an absolute sweetheart in real life,” Bissett says.
The Cummings Centre Foundation has quite the shopping spree planned.
SHOPPING EVENT AT LIPARI FOR A CAUSE: Get ready to shop for a cause by joining the Cummings Centre Foundation for an exclusive evening at Maison Lipari’s stunning new flagship store on Wed, Dec. 3 from 6 pm to 8 pm at Carré Union on Decarie. Guests will enjoy a festive night of holiday shopping with exclusive discounts of 15 to 20 percen off on all items, featuring some of the most coveted brands in town. The evening will feature a live fashion show showcasing the Carole Cohen Collection, along with product demonstrations, tastings, and special surprises throughout the night. Guests will also have the chance to win prizes valued at over $500 — all while supporting the Cummings Centre Foundation, which raises funds to enhance the lives of seniors in our community. A minimum donation of $36 is required to register, with proceeds directly benefiting the Cummings Centre Foundation. To register go here
PARENT WORKSHOP: The Sylvan Adams YM-YWHA (5400 Westbury) will present a Parent Workshop on Teen Fitness on Tues. Nov. 25 (7:30 pm). It will be led by expert kinesiologists David Estrada, Hui Min Zhang and Louise Malone. Raising active, confident teens starts with a strong foundation. This free, interactive workshop — open to Y members and non-members — will help parents support their teens’ fitness journey with practical advice from our in-house kinesiologists and fitness professionals. Registration is required here.
Pam Wener
COMEDY FUNDRAISER: Excitement is in the air! The Montreal Centre for Learning Disabilities (MCLD) invites you to an unforgettable night of laughter and community at Hurley’s Irish Pub on Thurs. Nov. 20 for its annual Comedy Fundraiser. This year’s event features an all-star lineup headlined by the hilarious Heidi Foss, along with performances from David Pryde, Dawn Ford, and Sharon Beaumont. The evening will be hosted by Pam Wener, all in support of MCLD’s vital programs for individuals and families living with learning disabilities and ADD. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7p.m. Tickets are available online for $25 and $30 at the door. All proceeds go directly to support MCLD programs. Ticket info is here.
ROYALMOUNT: Well, Royalmount, already recognized as Montreal’s premier lifestyle destination, has just been recognized as a leader in design excellence, taking home the most awards of any nominee at the 2025 Interior Design Awards. Founded by the team behind the Architecture MasterPrize (AMP), the INT Interior Design Awards celebrate innovation, inclusivity, and excellence across the global design industry, spotlighting the world’s most visionary designers, studios, and projects each year. As an internationally open competition, the recognition is particularly meaningful, underscoring Royalmount’s ability to stand out among exceptional projects from around the world. Among Royalmount’s multiple wins, most notably, the property took home the “Award of the Year” for Inclusive Bathrooms (By: Borrallo Interiors + Chrome Design + Lemay). Focused on lived experience, Carbonleo, the developer behind Royalmount, considers green spaces and inclusivity as essential and relevant elements in contemporary Canadian society. This experience of inclusivity is extended as the main concept for the design of the public bathroom in Royalmount.
In addition to this top honour, several ROYALMOUNT tenants and collaborators were also recognized across categories, highlighting the site’s collective design excellence: Birks (Aedifica Architectes) – Gold, Retail 1,600 sq. ft.; Dynamite (GDI Design) – Multiple Gold and Silver awards including Retail ,5,400 sq. ft., Lighting, Integration of Art, Collaboration, and Product Design; Le Fou Fou (Lemay Michaud Architectes) – Gold, Food Court Design, Branding & Signage, Art Installation; Qwelli (Huma Design) – Silver, Café & Counter Service; Rennaï (Borallo Interiors, Chrome Design) – Gold and Silver across Beauty Retail, Lighting, Colour, and Materials; and Sports Experts (Conrath Architecte, INDESIGN), Gold, Retail, 5,400 sq. ft.
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