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Receive the Mtl Times via E-mail - www.mtltimes.ca
Saturday, May 15, 2021 Vol. 26 No. 30
birrafanelli.com Covering Montréal & Surrounding Areas
FIRST FEMALE
BIKE COP
First SPVM female motorcycle
officer Monelle Hébert
SO L D
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DEDICATION • DEVOTION • DETERMINATION
2 www.mtltimes.ca May 15, 2021 •
Montreal rents up monthly, annually
for one- and two-bedroom homes
The average asking rent for all Canadian On a provincial level, Quebec was in the in April compared to March, which we be-
properties listed on Rentals.ca in April was middle of the pack for average rent at lieve is the result of units leasing faster as
$1,675 per month, a decrease of $167 or $1,623, up 2.9 per cent monthly. opposed to more vacant units in the other
9 per cent from $1,842 in April of last year Year over year, average monthly rents in provinces.
and down 1 per cent monthly. Month over Laval are down 5.5 per cent for a one-bed- “Even with the prolonged pandemic,
month, average rents in Montreal rents are room and 3.7 per cent for a two-bedroom.
up 4.1 per cent for a one-bedroom and 2.5 Although rents have continued to fall on a there appears to be increased rental de-
per cent for a two-bedroom, while year national basis, they are up regionally and by mand, but it will take a few months before
over year, average rents for a one-bedroom product type. we declare it a trend and not a statistically
are up 2.5 per cent and up 8.3 per cent for Average rental rates increased month anomaly based on a changing composition
a two-bedroom. over month in British Columbia, Ontario, of listings.”
Since hitting a high of $1,954 in August Alberta and Quebec, suggesting the market Anecdotal evidence suggests an increase
2019, the average monthly rental rate has might have turned a corner with increased of furnished apartments for rent, according
steadily declined -- now down $279 from tenant demand. to many property listing agents. COVID-19
the peak, according to Rentals.ca’s and The third wave of COVID-19 continues
Bullpen Research & Consulting’s latest Na- to wreak havoc in certain areas of the with travel restrictions in place has affected
tional Rent Report. country, but that has not stopped residents the short-term rental market..
Montreal finished 19th on the list of 35 from trying to get into the rental market Quebec, British Columbia, Ontario and
cities for average monthly rent in April for or tenants from moving for better deals Alberta have the most offerings of fur-
a one-bedroom home at $1,469 and ninth and more space before rents start moving nished condo rentals and apartments.
for average monthly rent for a two-bed- up consistently. In Quebec, the average furnished apart-
room at $1,995. “Despite the continued decline in average ment is listed for 7 per cent more than un-
Montreal rents average for condo rentals rents on a national level, the rental market furnished apartments
and apartments decreased 2 per cent year has started to turn up with rents increasing The National Rent Report charts and an-
over year. month over month in most of the largest
Laval came in 24th for average monthly provinces in the country,” said Ben Myers, alyzes monthly, quarterly and annual rates
rent in April for a one-bedroom home at president of Bullpen Research & Consult- and trends in the rental market on a na-
$1,325 and 20th for average monthly rent ing.“The drop overall in Canada is likely the tional, provincial, and municipal level across
for a two-bedroom at $1,737. result of a lower share of listings in Ontario all listings on Rentals.ca for Canada.
Get with the Times!
mtltimes.ca
• May 15, 2021 www.mtltimes.ca 3
4 www.mtltimes.ca May 15, 2021 •
Just For Laughs festival goes
hybrid this summer
The 39th edition of the Just For Laughs ences so that they could stream it free of
comedy festival will be back to provide charge; live, in-person tapings of original
Montreal comedy fans its annual summer programming featuring some of Canada’s
fix of laughs from July 26-31. However, as a finest comics, which will both air and
result of the changing face of international stream on the Bell Media network; tapings
travel and public health and safety guide- of in-person comedy specials that will also
lines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this feature a line-up of Canada’s top comics for
year’s festival will offer a hybrid of in-per- Just For Laughs’ new record label JFL Orig-
son and digital programming not only from inals, and will be internationally released as
Montreal, but also originating from Los An- an album this fall; the return of the popular
geles and New York City. ComedyPRO industry conference, which
Laugh Out Loud (LOL), comedian Kevin
Hart’s global comedy brand and multi-plat- will run from July 28-31 and be 100% digital,
and feature such returning events as the
form entertainment company, will once
again participate as the festival’s official pro-
By Stuart Nulman New Faces showcase, Variety’s 10 Comics
to Watch presentation, Eat My Shorts,
gramming partner, and will include over mtltimes.ca Stand Up & Pitch and 15 Minutes with A
200 artists from around the comedy world
as part of this year’s line-up. from Montreal, L.A. and New York; the an- Power Broker.
And the best part is that all digital Just nual Just For Laughs Awards Show, which More programming announcements, as
For Laughs shows will be offered to the honors the best in the comedy business well as the unveiling of this year’s festival
public free of charge. and was previously open to solely industry line-up, will happen within the next few
This year’s highlights include: digital stand- people, will be not only 100% virtual, but weeks. For more information, go to
up shows and concept shows originating for the first time, will be open to all audi- www.hahaha.com .
Boulangerie - Pâtisserie - Charcuterie
MERIDIONALE - CARAVELLA since 1977
Bread • Pizza • Panini • Taralli
Assortment of Cookies and Amaretti
Pastries • Cakes • Cold Cuts • Cheese
Special occasion cakes • varrity of pasta
(514) 363-2760 / (514) 363-4211
Pina e Franco Ferri owners
1699 Thierry, LaSalle, Qc. H8N 1H6
• May 15, 2021 www.mtltimes.ca 5
3551 boul. St. Charles,
Suite #547, Kirkland,
Quebec, H9H 3C4
514-951-3328
info@mtltimes.ca
www.mtltimes.ca
editor@totimes.ca
www.totimes.ca
Distribution
Hudson, St. Lazare, Sennevil e, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Baie d’Urfe, Bea-
consfield, Kirkland, Pte. Claire, D.D.O., Pier efonds, Roxboro, Dorval, La-
chine, NDG, Vil e St-Laurent, Châteauguay, Cote St-Luc, Snowdon,
Hampstead, Mtl-West, Westmount, Laval, Verdun, Lasalle, Montreal, St.
Leonard, Anjou, Ahuntsic, Lit le Italy, Nuns’ Island
Advertising
info@mtltimes.ca
ADVERTISING DEADLINE
(Wednesday at 5 p.m.)
514-951-3328
Arlene Dickinson launches
Managing Editor:
Tom West
Canada’s most extensive
business growth ecosystem
Today, Arlene Dickinson, well- Dickinson’s venture capital fund – ones, to embrace and respond di-
known Canadian investor and en- District Ventures Capital. rectly to this trend,” said Arlene
trepreneur, announced the launch Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dickinson, CEO of Venturepark. “It
Contributors: of Canada’s most extensive busi- Dickinson and her team had identi- is no secret that the COVID-19
ness growth ecosystem focused on fied a shift in Canadian consumer pandemic has led to a focus on
• Alyssa De Rosa consumer-packaged goods (CPG): behaviours. Canadians were be- health and self – as well as a desire
Venturepark. coming increasingly educated about and demand for homegrown indus-
• Marco Giovanetti Venturepark will house Dickin- the foods they consumed while
• Sergio Martinez son’s network of companies with a seeking healthier lifestyles. Dickin- try and products. At Venturepark,
• Bonnie Wurst focus on supporting brands in the son saw an opportunity for Cana- we provide a support system in
food and health CPG space. Fa- dian companies, within the food and which CPG businesses of all sizes
• Stuart Nulman can not only successfully navigate
• Deborah Rankin mous for her marketing and invest- health CPG space, to better meet
ing expertise, Dickinson’s new the new and emerging needs of this new business terrain but be
• Martha Shannon ecosystem offers capital, marketing, Canadians as well as exporting to better equipped with the resources
programming, innovation, commer- serve increasing global consumer to thrive in it.”
cialization and media amplification demand. Venturepark will continue The launch of Venturepark and
to the companies it serves.The new to support current clients as they the strategic sectoral shift in Dick-
SUBSCRIPTION network includes Venture Play, Ven- grow and innovate, while simultane- inson’s companies reflects her 30-
General subscriptions in Canada: 1 turepark Labs, Venturepark Voice, ously helping emerging CPG brands
year $150, 2 years $275 Subscrip- year commitment to supporting
District Ventures Capital and Dis- grow locally, expand globally, and both Canadian entrepreneurs and
tion to the U.S. and outside North trict Ventures Plus.Venturepark will adapt to the changing economic cli-
America:1 year $250 US the Canadian economy while rec-
All contents of this publication
serve clients across North America mate. ognizing and adapting to market
are sole property of The Mon- from its headquarters in Calgary,Al- “We believe that food and bev-
treal Times Newspaper. Opin-
berta and offices in Toronto, On- erage, health and wellness and agri- trends. For over 13 seasons, Dick-
ions expressed in this
publication are not necessarily tario. culture entrepreneurship will inson has publicly invested in Cana-
intended to reflect those of the
publisher. Any reproduction in The launch of Venturepark comes become key economic drivers for dian companies through CBC’s hit
whole or in part and in print or
in electronic form without ex- following more than a year of our nation moving forward. This is tv show, Dragons’ Den.
press permission is strictly for-
bidden. Permission to strategic shifts, high-profile hires, why we have strategically shifted Businesses interested in learning
reproduce selected editorial
may be granted by contacting corporate acquisitions, as well as our current business units, acquired more about Venturepark can visit
the publisher in writing.
numerous investments through others and are developing new www.venturepark.ca .
6 www.mtltimes.ca May 15, 2021 •
Quebec may offer digital
vaccine passport
Quebec has announced that they will start
to distribute vaccine passports to prove
you have taken a COVID-19 vaccine. The
passport will be a digital one on your smart
phone.
Health Minister Christian Dubé said, "the
QR code, which will replace the paper doc-
ument Quebecers have been receiving
after their COVID-19 vaccine. The QR
code is not the digital passport but the first
step towards towards the government is-
suing one."
The COVID-19 vaccine digital passport
will be used for going to work, entering
restaurants, travelling and other events. It
will be used to keep Quebecers safer.
Starting this Thursday if you receive the
COVID-19 vaccine you will be given a dig-
ital QR code instead of a piece of paper
saying you received the vaccine. A QR code
is barcode that is scanned by any smart-
phone using an app and it will give certain
information on when you received the vac-
cine and what kind you were administered.
Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé
says, " as an example restaurants will be
asking for proof that you received the vac-
cine and the QR code is maybe a good
idea. whether to go ahead with a digital passport we are saying we have to look at it," added
Canada Public Health Director Horacio system, and if so, how it could be used." Public Health Director Horacio Arrude.
Arrude said, is department is studying the "We want to do a good analysis given the How do you feel about being scanned
issue closely, and will make a recommenda- ethical issues, among others. I think it could when you enter a public place? Send us
tion to the Canadian government about have a certain utility. We are not saying no, your thoughts at info@mtltimes.ca
• May 15, 2021 www.mtltimes.ca 7
The oven mitts are on
for celebrity chef cooking
challenge series
One thing that was obvious through-
out the past 15 months of the
COVID-19 pandemic; many people
took up certain projects, hobbies and
past times to while away all those
endless days and weeks of self-isola-
tion, or to learn a new skill that you
procrastinated to start for such a
long time.
One of them was cooking. There
have been many who have decided to
get off the couch and make their way
to the kitchen to discover the joys of
cooking by experimenting with new
recipes, reverting to tried and true
recipes (i.e., sourdough bread), or fi-
nally make use of those kitchen appli-
ances that were gathering dust if they
weren’t a microwave oven (or ea-
gerly break in their brand new air
fryer).
Seema Arora and Alexandra Tri-
antafillopoulos of Zensa Media Inter-
national are taking the joy of cooking
and eating good food with a new not-
for-profit project that is serving as a
morale booster for the public who
are coping with the pandemic. It’s a
cooking show challenge featuring a
number of well-known celebrity
chefs, who will put on their oven
mitts and pick up their spatulas, for
10 cooking segments that are airing
every Friday on a special VIP Face-
book watch party that runs from
now until mid-June. Besides social
media, these cooking segments will
also air on the Emmy Award-winning
Dragon Digital cable network, which
can be seen in the Baltimore and
Washington, D.C. areas.
Some of the celebrity chefs who
will be serving up their culinary magic who were contestants on Masterchef cast host and TV personality Chantal
throughout the challenge include Canada; and Arnaud Marchand, who Desjardins; Orla Johannes from
Chef Romeo of Shodan Restaurant is the chef for, and owner of, the
(and has also cooked for P.K. Subban, CJAD; and CBC news reporter
Chez Boulay restaurant in Montreal. Kwabena Oduro.Their final decisions
Carey Price and Britney Spears);
Vikram Vij, restaurant owner and for- The culinary creations that are will be announced during the awards
mer Dragon’s Den panelist; the team being whipped up exclusively for the show broadcast, which will air over
of Rebecca and Mandy from the pop- celebrity chef cooking show chal-
lenge will be carefully scrutinized and Zoom sometime in mid-June.
ular chain of the Montreal-based For more information, go to
Mandy’s gourmet salad restaurants; evaluated by a quartet of celebrity
Paula Zavala, a Mexican chef based in judges. Making up this panel are TV www.zensamedia.com, or you can
Toronto who hosts her own cooking personality and author Nicole Jones; check out their Facebook and Insta-
show; the duo of Marida and Narida, comedian, Montreal Canadiens pod- gram pages at zensamedia .
8 www.mtltimes.ca May 15, 2021 •
First SPVM female motorcycle officer Monelle Hébert
First SPVM female
motorcycle officer
The SPVM is very proud to an-
nounce a great first. Policewoman
Monelle Hébert recently became
the first female motorcycle officer
in the history of the Service. To do
this, she successfully completed a
complex and demanding selection
process that was only successful by
around 30% of applicants.
The steps to qualify are long and
very difficult. Using the motorbike,
which weighs nearly 600 lbs, the
police must undergo a series of
track and road tests over four
weeks that demand remarkable
precision and agility.
On behalf of all employees of the
Service, we salute Agent Hébert for
this historic achievement.
• May 15, 2021 www.mtltimes.ca 9
10 www.mtltimes.ca May 15, 2021 •
Burgundy Lion PUB ON
WHEELS offers new delivery
of drinks and food on Canal
If you find yourself thirsty on the Lachine PUB ON WHEELS menu: They are also offering a make your own
Canal Burgundy Lion Pub will have you cov- • ANGUS CHEESEBURGER & FRIES - AAA Sangria pitcher for your picnic or BBQ on
ered. In this Pandemic era they have started Angus beef, brioche bun, aged cheddar, Bur- the Lachine Canal. The Sangria will include
a new service called PUB ON WHEELS. gundy Lion sauce, lettuce, tomato, pickles juice mix, citrus fruits, a bottle of Barzoli
Starting this past Wednesday The Bur- $16 white wine and two 355ml Sarah Cole
gundy Lion pub is taken the food and • TIKKA BURGER - Chicken Tikka masala, cider cans.
drinks to you. If you are on the Lachine brioche bun, lettuce, tomato $16
Canal and would like to order a nice lunch • BANGER DOG & FRIES - Homemade The PUB ON WHEELS (POW) service
dinner or snack accompanied with alcohol. Quebec pork sausage, Burgundy Lion Ale will be available weather permitting and is
The PUB ON WHEELS delivery service beer, house spices, caramelized onions, from Wednesday to Sunday.
will be free and carried out the the Bur- roasted red peppers $13 Order by telephone, website or in person.
gundy Lion Pub staff on bicycle. Please see the Burgundy Lion Pub menu 514 934 0888
Here are some examples of the amazing for more. www.burgundylion.com
• May 15, 2021 www.mtltimes.ca 1112 www.mtltimes.ca May 15, 2021 •
Gabby’s Farm: life down on the
farm from the point-of-view of
a six-year-old farm girl
Meet Gabby. She is a six-year-old girl who can be a star,” she said.
lives on her family farm near Guelph, On- “She is a real hands-on person, especially
tario. when she shows the skills she has learned
At such an early age, Gabby is already a so far doing her responsibilities and chores
farm girl at heart. She is passionate about on the farm,” she said. “And with Gabby,
everything about her life and world down kids do see themselves being represented
on the farm, from her chores, to working on the screen, and through her experi-
with the many farm tools and implements ences, they can learn a whole lot of new life
that are at her disposal, to interacting with lessons, such as how to play and engage
the many animals that inhabit her family
farm (which includes horses, chickens, with animals.”
cows, sheep, lambs and cats). In fact, Gabby Ms. Gray adds that “Gabby’s Farm” also
loves farm life so much, she is now about offers a new dimension in learning some
new educational skills. “As well as the farm-
to share that enthusiasm and passion with
pre-school viewers on her new TV series By Stuart Nulman ing skills, seasons, animals and responsibili-
“Gabby’s Farm”, which airs on TVOKids ties that are displayed on the show, we also
and the TVOKids YouTube channel starting mtltimes.ca have a math element (the short form series
May 17. activities she does regularly on the farm, “Count with Gabby”), where Gabby counts
“I never dreamed that I would have my such as milking cows, riding tractors and different items around the farm, or com-
own TV show. My mom sent a couple of even exploring beehives. pares sizes, etc. So there are lots of great
video applications, and I ended up audition- However, the series’ focus is not just re- learning outcomes for pre-schoolers.”
ing with 2000 other kids. And apparently, stricted to Gabby’s family farm. “I travel a Although young Gabby is a farm girl at
they picked me,” said Gabby during a re- lot and visit other peoples’ farms in the
area,” she said. “I have visited dairy farms, heart, she has appreciation of some of the
cent Zoom call direct from her family farm. joys of city life on her mind. When Gabby
“Gabby’s Farm” is a series geared to- goat farms, pig farms, sheep farms and apple
orchards, so they could learn a lot of things found out I live Montreal, she had this spe-
wards young viewers between the ages of cial request for me: “Can you send me
three and five, in which Gabby acts their like what are cows like, or where food
guide to the world of farming and agricul- comes from.” some Montreal bagels? Can I have five
ture, and show them, through her passion Chloe Gray, the series’ producer and di- boxes filled with them?”
for farm life, how they can pique their cu- rector, knew from the offset that Gabby “Gabby’s Farm” debuts on TVOKids and its
riosity about nature, how and where food was a natural to host this show.“She’s a real YouTube channel starting Monday, May 17.
grows, and caring for animals, amongst farm kid, whom you could envision her Also, it has been recently announced that the
other related topics. As well, she shows climbing a fence, then jump into a flock of show has just been renewed for a second sea-
what her everyday life is like on the farm, sheep and run around with them. Gabby son. For more information, or to watch episodes
as she introduces them to her family, also took a shining to the job of hosting a of the series, go to www.youtube.com/tvokid-
friends and neighbours, and some of the fun TV show. She’s a natural who knows she spreschool or www.facebook.com/tvokids .
• May 15, 2021 www.mtltimes.ca 13Book Reviews - mtltimes.ca
Constant Comedy by Art Bell
Back in 1990, I spent a couple weeks that July who won the cable comedy/t-shirt wars. Dur-
working as a talent runner for the Just For ing an afternoon lull in the mezzanine of the
Laughs festival. In particular, as one of six talent Delta Hotel (which was Just For Laughs’ official
runners for their flagship galas, who were en- hotel from 1988-2006), as I was taking a break
sconced in the backstage area of the St. Denis from manning the booth for the soon-to-be-
Theatre. Our mission was to make sure that constructed Museum of Humour (where I was
during rehearsals and show time, the comedi- working as a researcher), I saw a small pile of
ans whom we were assigned to were accom- t-shirts that were individually wrapped in plas-
modated to and taken care of. For me, I had tic, and were left outside the door of one of
the good fortune of having to look after and the hotel’s main ballrooms that was used for
cater to an impressive line-up of comics, in- the festival’s not-to-be-missed after parties.
cluding Tommy Davidson, Martin Mull, Tom While nobody was watching, I took a sneak
Kenny (the voice of Spongebob Squarepants) peek of what design was on the shirt. It was
and the late Bill Hicks. the name of the victorious comedy channel in
nondescript lettering and coloured in bright
pink so that it would attract attention. The
name that was printed on that shirt? “Comedy
Central”.
It’s been 30 years since that revelation came
to me thanks to a giveaway t-shirt. Since then,
Comedy Central has been the dominant player
on cable TV when it came to original comedy
programming (like “South Park” and “The Daily promos, getting talent to appear in front of the
Show”) and countless stand-up specials (be- camera, and hammering out the details and lo-
fore Netflix began to nip at their heels in a big gistics that would result in Comedy Central’s
way). first regular program “Short Attention Span
Art Bell, the man who put the channel to- Theatre” (SAST). However, the biggest
gether and was by Comedy Central’s side dur- headache that the Comedy Channel/Comedy
ing its growing pains and early meteoric Central team had to deal with was the im-
By Stuart Nulman triumphs, recalls the birth of a major cable TV pending debut of a rival 24-hour cable comedy
network in his recently-published memoir channel that was being developed by MTV; it
mtltimes.ca Constant Comedy. was to be called HA! The TV Comedy Channel,
During the early 80s, Bell was a mid-level ex- and it was set to launch on April 1, 1990.
The job not only meant some good pocket ecutive at the constantly growing cable chan- But that’s not all.The book also focuses on the
money, but also a number of after show perks, nel that was HBO, first as a marketing analyst, behind-the-scenes look at the development of
which included going to late night shows and and then with a position at its New Business the concepts and shows that would put Com-
after parties. It was during the latter that I got Development department, where he was edy Central on the map during its first five
to witness the cable comedy wars. During that tasked as part of a team to develop and test years, such as the live comic commentary of
year, a nearly dog-eat-dog struggle broke out launch a new cable TV channel. Raised on com- President George H.W. Bush’s State of the
to see what two new 24/7 cable comedy chan- edy since he was in grade school (his favorites Union Address in 1992 (which led to the cre-
nels would prevail and survive for the hearts, included the Marx Brothers, Lenny Bruce, ation of The Daily Show); Comedy Central’s
minds, laughs and viewership of diehard com- Woody Allen and Mad magazine), and practic- own “Contract with America” in 1995; Mys-
edy fans in the U.S. And that battle was waged ing his comedy writing chops as a student at tery Science Theatre 3000; and Bill Maher’s
at the 1990 Just For Laughs festival in a rather the Wharton Business School writing sketches pre-Real Time politically-oriented talk show
indirect, interesting manner: through giveaway for the annual “Wharton Follies” stage revue, “Politically Incorrect”, in which Maher boldly
promotional t-shirts. Bell realized HBO’s potential as a purveyor of proclaimed when Comedy Central’s then-
It’s a well-known insider fact that no matter stand-up comedy (especially with its annual Head of Programming Mitch Semel asked him
what arts and culture festival you attend as an star making Young Comedians Special and the where the funny would be in the show: “I’m
industry person, a performer, a journalist or Comic Relief annual fundraising broadcast). the funny. But I won’t compete with my guests.
festival employee, there is a common denom- With the growing popularity of stand-up com- I won’t dive in with a joke at every opportunity
inator between them: they all like free festival edy and the increasing number of comedy just to get a laugh. I want the audience to get
or industry-related swag, and lots of it. This clubs opening up across the U.S. at that time, something out of this other than just me being
was no exception at Just For Laughs 31 years Bell realized that having HBO create a sepa- funny.”
ago. They were trying to vie for our attention rate 24-hour comedy channel would be the Finally, Bell gives the reader a cold, stark look
through free t-shirts. In one corner was The next logical step. He wanted the new channel’s at how fierce and cut throat the entertainment
Comedy Channel, which was owned by HBO format to be based on the “That’s Entertain- industry can be within its executive suites and
and went on the air in 1989; in the other cor- ment!” and MTV models, in which a variety of boardrooms, when he was unceremoniously
ner was HA! The Comedy Network, owned classic movie and TV comedy clips would play let go from his job in the mid-90s by the chan-
by MTV and hit the airwaves in the spring of on a rotating basis. nel’s newly-appointed CEO Doug Herzog, who
1990. And right in the middle was Showtime, However, when he first pitched the idea to previously worked as an executive at MTV, as
the U.S. cable network that was broadcasting HBO’s head of Original Programming, Bridget a sort-of purge of HBO staffers who were
Just For Laughs’ Saturday night gala live on the Potter, she flatly rejected the idea, in which she with Comedy Central from the early days. His
network, which at the same time was launch- told him “Arthur, you’re not a programmer.You account contains all the insincerity, cold-heart-
ing a new feature called “Showtime Jokes”. know nothing about comedy and very little edness and detachment that goes with the
I was lucky enough to get shirts from all about television…” hurt of being let go from any job for the im-
three of them. I wore them a lot throughout But when Bell brought the idea to Michael punity of people who, according to Bell, “per-
that summer and beyond; however, based on Fuchs, the chairman of HBO, he warmed up to form their work seriously, passionately, and
the designs, it was hard to decide which one his idea. Shortly afterwards, he was teamed up effectively.” It makes for sobering reading.
would win this war.The Comedy Channel shirt with Dick Beahrs, Executive V.P. of Sales for Constant Comedy is a penetrating look at
sported its large “C” logo on the front; HA! Cinemax; Fran Shea, V.P. of On-Air Promotion what it took, especially all that sacrifice and en-
displayed its eye-catching multi-colored logo for HBO; and Stu Smiley, HBO’s V.P. of Comedy. ergetic effort, towards creating a cable TV
on the front, which featured a Jaws-typed And that kicked off the dizzying roller coaster channel from scratch that still creates an im-
Great White shark with its jaws wide open and ride that would provide the genesis of the pact within the comedy world, from the man
a speech balloon coming out of its mouth that Comedy Channel, which would later be re- who built it from the ground up and took all
uttered a “HA!” in large black block letters; the named Comedy Central. the slings and arrows that went with it. How-
Showtime Jokes shirt was my favorite; the …And all of this had to be done in six ever, in retrospect, Art Bell had this to say
front had on the left side a medium-sized illus- months, in time for its official launch in No- about the mighty comedy channel he fathered:
tration of a potato wearing a set of Groucho vember of 1989. The first half of the book is “Comedy Central created and showcased
Marx glasses playing rim shots on a drum, with pre-occupied with the channel’s difficult birth thousands of hours of innovative television
the logo splayed across the upper back of the and its growing pains. Besides the usual clash comedy.And most importantly to me, Comedy
shirt. of egos, there were the battles over copyrights Central became what I intended: the center of
It wasn’t until a year later when I found out for the use of the clips for rebroadcast, taping the comedy universe. And that was the idea.”
14 www.mtltimes.ca May 15, 2021 •• May 15, 2021 www.mtltimes.ca 15
Movie Reviews - mtltimes.ca
“The Corruption of Divine
Providence” a gripping look at
the state of religion today
In the rural bilingual town of St. Michel, ous life choices and refuses to wear the
Manitoba, a teenage girl named Jeanne Catholic cross around her neck as a de-
Seraphin (Ali Skovbye) wakes up and dis- fiant manner of questioning the exis-
covers she has near fatal wounds to her tence of G-d due to the hardships she
head, hands and feet that closely resem- suffered throughout her life, while trying
ble the wounds Jesus Christ received to rescue her daughter from being ex-
when he was crucified. ploited for her divine powers.
Somehow, young Jeanne survives the Filled with eye catching cinematogra-
massive blood loss from those wounds. phy that adds a bit of colour to an area
As a result, she becomes the unwittingly in western Canada that could easily be
centre of attention, as the local Catholic portrayed as bleak, and strong perform-
church, the area’s Metis community and ances by the lead cast, as well as sup-
an American charismatic Pentecostal
preacher flock to her hospital room, By Stuart Nulman porting players Tantoo Cardinal as the
longtime sage mystic who aids Danielle
thinking she is a living miracle with a
message of peace and love to deliver. mtltimes.ca to find Jeanne when she is kidnapped
This creates a whirlwind of conflict, themselves the divine right of possessing from her hospital bed; and Corey Sevier
greed and the questioning of faith in Je- Jeanne to boost their respective religion. as the loud, snake-wielding charismatic
remy Torrie’s new feature “The Corrup- However, the greed aspect is starkly American preacher Peter Wolf, who
tion of Divine Providence”. represented through the motives of adds the right amount of sleaziness to
Produced by the Winnipeg-based Jeanne’s father Louis (David Richard La the role (and bears an eerie, but close
White Bear Films, this film is both grip- Haye), a Metis resident of St. Michel who resemblance to controversial Florida
ping and disturbing. It’s also a glaring runs a local bar and illicit liquor distri- congressman Matt Gaetz).
statement of the state of religion in bution network, who sees nothing but “The Corruption of Divine Provi-
North America today, whether it be dollar signs in this spiritual transforma- dence” may have some traces that’s
from the mystical, traditional or charis- tion that has taken over his daughter, reminiscent of The Exorcist, but it gives
matic viewpoint. As well, it shows how and tries to profit from it by offering the viewer some food for thought of
greed and ego can be so counter-pro- Jeanne’s “miracle” to the highest bidder. what people would go through for reli-
ductive towards the search for faith, as And the questioning of faith is repre- gious enlightenment, and the quest for
these three factions indirectly battle sented by her mother Danielle (Elyse fame and fortune that can turn a reli-
each other to see who can claim for Levesque), who has regretted her previ- gious miracle into a false prophet.
16 www.mtltimes.ca May 15, 2021 •Koalas Know Best
feed a koala a bowl been discovered in
By Martha Shannon of eucalyptus leaves, Indian, Greek and Eu-
mtltimes.ca don’t be surprised if ropean medicine.
the marsupial refuses Most of us are fa-
the offer, looks at miliar with eucalyp-
The genome of a you funny and asks, tus rubs for chest
koala instructs it to “Where’s the tree?
eat eucalyptus. It tells and throat to help
The art of ‘higher clear the sinuses in
the koala that these recognition’ is com-
leaves, while toxic to cold and cough sea-
mon to most mam- son. This sense-stim-
most mammals, are mals, but not the
not toxic to itself and ulating oil also helps
yet will supply its nu- to clarify the scalp,
tritional needs, in- purify pores and aid
cluding its water in wound healing.
supply. Koalas ac- Soothing Oil
complish a leaf chew Argan Neem Foot
marathon for several Cream tizer based on our need a break now sential oil blend.
hours a day before All Purpose Sanitizer own Thieves Oil and then and using As we often associ-
being sated. Not Our Soothing Oil is blend (eucalyptus, this sanitizer does ate eucalyptus with
only does the koala popular as an anti-in- clove, lemon, cinna- help to undo the al- the koala, there a
have the extra genes koala.Thus he known flammatory massage mon, rosemary ) cohol ravages on the warm feeling at-
to access the euca- to have what is called oil. Along with MSM, along with our own skin. tached to this excep-
lyptus’s nutrition, it a ‘smooth brain’. This emu, neem and pep- special additions. As We also sell a 100% tional oil. It comforts,
can also detoxify the ‘smooth brained’ permint the addition alcohol is aggravating pure therapeutic eu- relaxes and calms.
toxic foliage. This cuddler is presented of the eucalyptus to the skin, we pur- calyptus essential oil. Like a cuddle to the
leaves the cuddlers with many survival provides a soothing posely made it alco- Excellent in a bath or
without excess en- rub. skin.
challenges. hol free, but Covid diffuser. We stand behind our prod-
ergy and they like to Humans cannot di- Feet are prone to dictated that sanitiz- As with most es- ucts.We give great customer
snuggle in sleep up to gest eucalyptus, but many issues, as we all ers should contain al- sential oils, caution is service.Visit us at natural.ca.
22 hours a day. we do benefit greatly know.The addition of cohol to be effective. required when ap- Subscribe to our newsletter.
Koalas have a mi- from the leaves and eucalyptus to our We do use what is plied to the skin and ‘La Boutique Earth to Body’,
crobe that enables the oil. When ap- foot cream was a no recommended when it is usually best 89 Lucerne, Pointe Claire,
them to digest and plied topically, the brainer, as the feet venturing out of added to a carrier oil QC H9R 2V1) Email
benefit. They only need to relax, repair lockdown, but we info@natural.ca We are
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So, if you decide to pose Sanitizer sani- over-sanitized hands might use your es- hours call : 514-694-0705
• May 15, 2021 www.mtltimes.ca 1718 www.mtltimes.ca May 15, 2021 •
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