The Boys of Esplanade to help children’s hospitals

By Mike Cohen

We have told you in the past about The Boys of Esplanade, a 52-minute video which was produced 18 years ago and has now gained somewhat of a cult following in the community. The film originally came about as a result of a surprise 50th birthday party in 1990 for a large group of friends who grew up in the 1950s in the area of Esplanade Street and Mount Royal Boulevard.

“It was a surprise birthday party for our friend Martin Lubin which effectively turned out to be an exceptional reunion,” says Nick Pfefer, who organized the affair. “Most of us had not seen each other for at least 35 years.”

Last fall the film was brought out of storage and shown at the Segal Centre for the Arts at the Saidye’s CinemaSpace.

This was followed up in April with a screening at the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors. Now Sol Boxenbaum, host of CJAD’s Last Call, will be presenting the film in its biggest venue yet: the Dollar Cinema at Decarie Square (6900 Decarie) on Sunday June 14 (7:30 p.m.). Boxenbaum will serve as the emcee. Admission is $8 and proceeds will be donated to the Montreal Children’s Hospital and Hôpital Ste. Justine.

Produced by Pfefer and Lubin, the film is a nostalgic piece of life in the 1940s and ‘50s. Most of the clips came from a reunion held almost two decades ago at the old Stage Coach Restaurant on Decarie. Former Quebec Justice Minister and Superior Court Judge Herbert Marx, is himself one of the Boys of Esplanade. So is Gerry Weinstein, immediate past president of B’nai Brith Canada.

PUBLIC EDUCATION EVENT: Living well with Lymphedema: Focus on Self-Management is an important public education event organized by the Lymphedema Association of Quebec, in collaboration with the McGill Lymphedema Research Program held this Friday (noon to 6 p.m.) at the Hotel Maritime (1155 Guy St.). It should be of great interest to health care professionals, people living with lymphedema, as well as the general public. This program will include bilingual lectures and interactive workshops. Featured speakers, with their topics, are: Dr. Anna Towers, Director, MUHC Lymphedema Clinic: Latest News on Lymphedema Research;  Marjorie McClure, OTR/L, Magee Women’s Research Institute in Pittsburgh, Pa.: Exercise for Lymphedema Patients: Why and How the Breast Cancer Recovery Program Works; Marco Raffis, BSc, KT, PT Lymphedema Therapist: Understanding Lymphedema. There will also be a choice of interactive workshops providing participants with tools of self-management, including information on compression garments, self-measurement, self-massage and exercise and an open visit of exhibits of lymphedema products and services. Info: www.infolympho.ca 

LUPUS FUNDRAISER: On Wednesday, June 10 (7 p.m.) the Montreal General Hospital Lupus Clinic will hold a fundraising evening for the Singer Family Fund For Lupus Research at the Typhoon Lounge, 5752 Monkland. Local phenom folk rock bands The Skivvies and The Echo Hunters will perform. A silent auction is planned. There will also be prizes and finger food. Info: awendys@yahoo.com.

Have you got something for the Public Eye? Email mcohen@thesuburban.com or call 514-484-1107, ext. 307.