To the Members of the Milton-Parc Coalition
La Coalition Sauvons les 5 sites hospitaliers, and
the Individual Members of the Milton-Parc Citizens Committee
Lucia Kowaluk — November 19, 2014
Our community information meeting, Thursday, November 13, presenting ideas from the members of our large coalition (La Coalition Sauvons les 5 sites hospitaliers) was a huge success!
Over 200 people came, ready with questions and some ideas of their own. The atmosphere was alive.
We welcomed M. Jean-Jacques Bohémier, who represented Mayor Coderre, who could not be present, and who spoke on the Mayor’s behalf carrying the Mayor’s best wishes and support for much of our efforts; he also sent the message from the Mayor that we must meet with the appropriate people in the Québec government and pressure them to work with us; we have to convince them that we know what we are doing.
The expression on M. Bohémier’s face when he entered the room indicated his surprise at the large number of people filling the hall at Notre-Dame de la Salette. The addresses listed on our attendance sheets showed that about half the audience came from the greater Milton-Parc area, and the rest from all other parts of the city. Clearly people are concerned about what is going to happen to our soon-to-be emptied 5 hospitals.
Having ten or more tables stretched over the room with knowledgeable activists accompanied by the appropriate future plans for each of the 5 sites, was very popular; everyone chatting together.
The speeches presented the many ideas coming from our member organizations that show how these sturdy old buildings, publicly owned, can be useful as housing, clinics, recreation and cultural projects, and community services.
The greatest applause greeted a few passionate speakers who spoke of the tremendous need in our city to house low income families, the homeless, and to make available in our neighbourhood emergency healthcare and walk in clinics, as well as other community services.
The success of this information meeting has given us a big boost forward. The next step for the Plateau neighbourhood, which includes Milton-Parc, is to present the Quebec government with concrete plans that will show how our proposed uses can be managed, financed and governed.
We will keep you posted, and you can count on a similar spring information meeting to keep you up to date.
Final Note: A thousand thanks to all the wonderful volunteers (about 30 I would guess) who are responsible for the success of this evening: putting up 600 posters, putting 1200 leaflets in doors all over the city, setting up and taking down the tables and chairs for the evening, arriving early and leaving late. I dare not start mentioning names for fear I will leave someone out. Anyway – to you all, thank you!
We also want to thank all the generous individuals who contributed financially to the cost of the meeting; we raised $300, $200 of which goes to pay the church for the use of the hall and $100 will contribute to the expenses of printing the posters. Thanks again for all your help.
