A Lovely Evening for Camp Cosmos

On a beautiful spring evening in late April, a small group of people gathered for an intimate night of music at the House of Friendship on Duluth in support of Camp Cosmos. 

The concert opened with singer-songwriter Eliza Moore, whose original compositions (as well as a cover or two) set the mood of warmth, honesty, openness, and love that defined the evening. 

Former camp counsellor and classically-trained pianist Stefano Degano then played a couple of his favourite songs, giving heartfelt and educative introductions to each piece. 

The concert was closed by Egyptian musician Shams Al-Habib – accompanied at times by her two delightful and talented young sons – who maintained the same warmth and love of the evening.

 

Thank you so much to the musicians, to the concert-goers, and to those who supported the cause even though they could not make it to the concert! 

Molly Churchill, McGill student and Camp Cosmos Board member

Photos: Amir Foudeh

Camp Cosmos community appreciation concert!

(le français suit)

Dear friends,

As the sun stays out longer each passing day and as the crocuses start poking their way through the soil, we know that summer will soon be here...and this means that Camp Cosmos will soon be in full swing again!  

Before long, a new cohort of campers will start on their six-week adventure of making new friends, trying new things, growing, and discovering - all while making this city a little greener.

With this in mind, we would like to invite you to a Camp Cosmos community appreciation concert!

When: Tuesday, April 30th at 7:30pm 

Where: The House of Friendship (120 Duluth St. East, H2W 1H1)

What: A musical evening featuring Shams Al-Habib who will be performing Sufi chants & Zikr, Stefano Degano performing piano solos, and Eliza Moore performing original compositions on guitar, piano, and violin.

For whom?: For all who have become part of the Camp Cosmos community through offering a donation. 

If you have not yet donated, it is simple to donate now: simply visit Camp Cosmos on CanadaHelps.org (click here) and make a donation!  

The suggested donation amount is $15-$50, depending on what you feel you are able to give.   

Please also RSVP with Molly Churchill at molly.churchill@gmail.com, with “Camp Cosmos concert RSVP” as the subject line.

We look forward to enjoying an evening of music with you at the end of the month!

For more info on the artist:

http://elizamoore.com/

Chers amis,

Chaque jour qui passe, le soleil brille de plus en plus longtemps et les crocus commencent à sortir de terre, ce qui signifie que l’été sera bientôt là... et donc que le Camp Cosmos reprendra vie et ouvrira à nouveau ses portes! 

Une nouvelle cohorte de campeurs commenceront alors leur aventure de six semaines durant laquelle ils rencontreront de nouveaux amis, essairont de nouvelles choses, exploreront et découvriront.... tout en rendant la ville plus verte.

C’est dans cet esprit que nous souhaiterions vous inviter à une soirée musicale pour vous remercier de faire partie de la communauté du Camp Cosmos.

Quand : le mardi 30 avril à 19h30

Où :  La Mason de l’amitié (120, rue Duluth Est, H2W 1H1)

Quoi : Une soirée de musique avec Shams Al-Habib qui offrira des chants Sufi et Zikr, Stefano Degano au piano, et Eliza Moore, chanteuse et musicienne accomplie.

Pour qui ? Pour tous ceux qui sont devenus membres de la communauté du Camp Cosmos en offrant une donation. 

Si vous n’avez pas encore fait de don, c’est si simple! Il suffit de visiter le Camp Cosmos à CanadaHelps.org (cliquer ici)! 

Nous suggérons un don de 15 à 50 dollars, selon ce que vous pouvz vous permettre.

Merci aussi de confirmer votre présence avec Molly Churchill à molly.churchill@gmail.com, en indiquant « Camp Cosmos concert RSVP » comme sujet de votre message.

Nous avons hâte de profiter de cette soirée de musique en votre compagnie.

Pour en savoir plus sur nos artistes:

http://sinabathaie.com/fr_intro.cfm

http://elizamoore.com/

Smashing Success!

Ping!  Pop!  Smash(ing success)!!  

On March 23, 2013, over 80 participants came together for an old-fashioned ping pong tournament.  

All of the proceeds went to MCM's Just Solutions clinic  - over $2300 in total!  

Ping Poshers transformed from sporting white-clothed athletes to eager spectators in "fancy dress" as the evening unfolded, making for an entertaining night of fun for a great cause.  

A big thank you to volunteers and participants alike!

Text: Andrea Dawes

Ping Pong for Just Solutions

On March 23rd, 2013, you are cordially invited to Ping Posh III: Spring Invitational, in support of Just Solutions, MCM's legal information clinic!  

Ping Posh is an annual charity ping pong tournament - it is a fun-filled evening, and no ping pong skills are required!  This year, we are happy to announce that all of the profits will go directly to support the work of Just Solutions.

Click HERE to visit the registration site and sign up for a whole lot of fun for a great cause (and here to view the FB event page).  No ping pong skills necessary!

There is a reminder below, and on the site, of how it all works.  We're aiming for 80 participants (almost 1/2 way there!) so don't delay!

Hope to see you all on March 23rd. 

Ping Posh III: Spring Invitational
March 23, 2013

For an all-inclusive fee of $45 you receive a place in the tournament and access to the open bar for the evening. Advance registration is required and the tournament will be limited to 80 players. Bystanders will not be permitted. All levels of player are welcome and games are friendly, however, proper attire is mandatory. All players are required to wear white sporting apparel while on the court and formal wear ("fancy dress") following elimination from tournament play. There will be prizes for particularly inspired ensembles.

À table pour Solutions Justes!

Last Saturday February 23rd, 40 lucky diners participated in an evening of solidarity for MCM's Just Solutions legal information clinic.  

They were treated to a delicious 3 course meal, the sweet melodies of The Sin and the Swoon, and a general atmosphere of fun and celebration in support of Just Solutions.  

We raised $2400 to support the clinic's continued efforts to support vulnerable individuals as they navigate the complex administrative labyrinth of the Canadian immigration system.  

Many thanks to the donors, sponsors and volunteers who made this event possible, especially our chef extraordinaire, James Barrington, his sous-chef, Grant Rummel, and Mike O'Brien and Michelle Tompkins (a.k.a The Sin and the Swoon)!

Photos: Michelle Knight

Soirée de solidarité pour Solutions Justes

Hello all!  

The "solidarity evening" for the Just Solutions Clinic is approaching quickly!  

We hope you can join us for a fun-for-a-good-cause on Saturday, February 23 - delicious 3-course North African inspired meal prepared by formidable and up-and-coming chef James Barrington (wine included), and the musical stylings of one of my favourites, The Sin and the Swoon (a.k.a Mike O'Brien and Michelle Tompkins), WOW!  I, for one, am very excited.

Feel free to circulate this info in your networks.

Initial registration at http://guestli.st/144795.  Once registered, you will be e-mailed instructions for reserving your spot by donating $55 (or more) via MCM's "Canada Helps" page - Your spot is not reserved until payment is complete!  

Only 40 spaces so don't delay!

Andrea Dawes, co-coordinator of the JS Clinic

Café Chez Boris, 5151, Park Avenue

Mike O'Brien and Michelle Tompkins

Bonjour tout le monde!

La ‘soirée solidarité’ de la Clinique Solutions Justes approche à grands pas!

Nous espérons que vous pourrez vous joindre à nous pour une soirée de plaisir-pour-une-bonne-cause, samedi le 23 février. Au programme, un délicieux repas Nord-Africain préparé par le formidable chef James Barrington (vin inclus), et la musique d’un de mes groupes préférés, The Sin and the Swoon (alias Mike O’Brien et Michelle Tompkins), WOW! Pour ma part, j’ai très hâte!

Jetez un coup d’œil sur l’affiche et faites-là circuler dans vos réseaux.

Pour réserver votre place, visiter notre page Guestlist en cliquant sur ce lien :  http://guestli.st/144795. Une fois enregistré, vous recevrez par courriel les instructions pour le paiement de $55 (ou plus) via la page MCM de Canada Helps. Votre place n’est réservée qu’une fois le paiement complété!

Faites vite, il n’y a que 40 places!

Andrea Dawes, co-coordonnatrice de la Clinique Solutions Justes

Café Chez Boris, 5151, avenue du Parc

Photo: Olivier Bourget

Kudos Rick!

Pro Bono Quebec* has just focussed the spotlight on MCM supervising lawyer.  Read the following well-deserved tribute that is posted on their web site this month. 

Lawyer Rick (Richard Neil) Goldman has devoted his entire professional career to the task of improving access to justice for the most vulnerable members of the Montreal community.

Over the past twenty-four years, Me Goldman has supported and advocated for the rights of refugees, tenants, social assistance beneficiaries, and other groups in need of quality legal information and/or representation. Through his work with Project Genesis (staff lawyer), the Just Solutions legal information clinic of the Montreal City Mission (supervising lawyer), the Committee to Aid Refugees (coordinator) and the Association multi-ethnique pour l'intégration des personnes handicapées du Québec (pro-bono legal advice), Rick's passionate approach to the legal profession has enabled countless individuals to access the just recourses to which all citizens, regardless of background and financial resources, are entitled. Pro Bono Québec salutes Me Goldman’s generous contribution! 

* Pro Bono Québec initiates, coordinates and promotes free or low-cost professional legal services to the benefit of the population of limited means in Quebec.

Pro Bono Québec* a choisi d'honorer Me Richard Goldman, avocat superviseur de la McM. Voici le texte publié sur leur site  ce mois-ci.

Me Rick (Richard Neil) Goldman a consacré sa vie professionnelle à l’amélioration de l'accès à la justice pour les membres les plus vulnérables de la communauté montréalaise.

Au cours des 24 dernières années, Me Goldman a soutenu et défendu les droits des réfugiés, des locataires, des prestataires d’aide sociale et autres groupes de personnes pour qui l’accès à des services juridiques est limité. Par son travail auprès des organismes communautaires tels que le Projet Genèse (avocat salarié), la Clinique de Solutions Justes de la Mission communautaire de Montréal (avocat superviseur), le Comité d'aide aux réfugiés (coordonnateur) et l'Association multi-ethnique pour l'intégration des personnes handicapées du Québec (conseiller juridique pro bono), la généreuse vision du droit de Rick a permis à d'innombrables personnes d'accéder aux recours en justice appropriés, sans égard à leur origine et à leurs ressources financières. Pro Bono Québec salue la généreuse contribution de Me Goldman !

* Pro Bono Québec initie, coordonne et fait la promotion de services juridiques professionnels gratuits ou à faibles coûts au bénéfice de la population démunie du Québec.