Member of Parliament Anthony Housefather presented the King Charles III Coronation Medal on March 10, 2025, to three Côte Saint-Luc residents who have given decades of service to the City.
Susie Berkson-Schwartz has been an active volunteer with Côte Saint-Luc Citizens on Patrol (vCOP) since 2006, dedicating almost 20 years to ensuring the safety and well-being of her fellow citizens.
In her role with vCOP, Susie has taken on many important tasks, including organizing vCOP’s presence at major events such as the Winter Carnival, the Ruth Kovac Blood Drive, Canada Day celebrations, and Remembrance Day activities. She also coordinates vCOP representation at local events in places like Trudeau Park and Ashkelon Gardens. Susie works closely with city staff to make sure these events run smoothly and are enjoyable for the public, making her a key figure in the community. Before focusing on her volunteer work, Susie had a successful career as both an educator and a professional in the clothing industry. Her passion for helping others also led her to serve as the program coordinator for the Open Gate Senior Day Program at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, where she worked with seniors from 2009 until the program closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Susie’s exceptional service and commitment to her community make her a very deserving recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal. We are truly honored to recognize her today for her hard work, generosity, and dedication.
Joy Rodgers grew up not far from the Cote Saint-Luc EMS station and knew from early on that caring for others was in her future. Working at Blossom Pool, Rabin wading pool, and at Parkhaven Pool, she’s always had service to her community in her blood. At age 18, she walked into EMS and 26 years later is still at it. Since joining in February 1999, Joy Rodgers has accomplished a lot. She is an experienced medic, driver and instructor. She led the quality assurance team and was in charge of recruiting, all while continuing to dedicate hundreds of hours of volunteer service to help others. While not on shift at EMS, Joy is an active mom of two, a wife, an elementary school first aid coordinator, a CPR instructor, and a cancer survivor and advocate.
Mitchell Brownstein practiced law from 1988 until becoming a full-time Mayor in May in 2016. He was first elected to Côte Saint-Luc Council in 1990. He was an activist Councillor promoting issues of Canadian Unity, Co-Chairing the Cote Saint Luc Demerger Committee and advocating for Holocaust Remembrance. As a City Councillor he held the portfolios of Public Works and Parks and Recreation, introduced the Fun Card providing access to CSL recreational facilities, and established the Cote Saint Luc Dramatic Society. He was co-Chair of the Aquatic and Community Centre building project, adding indoor pools, a gym, a fitness centre and dance studio, and activity rooms bringing new programs to the community as well as virtual options.
As Mayor he led the country in Covid-19 safety being the first city anywhere in Canada to mandate masks in public places. He opposed the CAQ’s Bill -21 Charter of values on secularism organizing a rally in front of City Hall and Bill 96 the CAQ language legislation leading a legal contestation before the courts. He is very proud that our city was a finalist in the Smart City challenge whereby Cote Saint Luc provided in-home technology to isolated seniors and received an $800,000 grant making Cote Saint Luc a living lab helping seniors live longer in their homes while staying connected to friends, family and city life. He takes great pride in the renovated Kirwan Park that was accomplished with 3.8 million dollars of Federal/Provincial grant monies, the refrigerated outdoor ice surface at the annex, our renovated arena, renovated outdoor pool with handicap access to match the handicapped access at the indoor pool and the drop-in Centre for older seniors with dementia.