San Miguel de Allende's best hairdresser



CATRINA

by Nancy Snipper

Her name is Vero and her husband is Juan Calros, Both are artistically inclined, Vero has been doing hair for over 26 years and she is  also a genius make-up artist – The Day of the Dead in San Miguel sports many of her make-up faces. They are so detailed, they appear like tattoos. Vero is fun and highly creative. Her hubby is the side-kick; he behaves like an adorable clown, but take one look at the fantasy nails he does for women, and you know this guy is all business.
I was astounded by their marvelous rapport with their clients, I was 5 hours in the chair, and yet it was I that was entertained completely by their wit and remarkable caring as to my hair.
Go there and be amazed.
Catrina is a cool place that brings beauty to your hair. Vero did to mine, so remember the hairdressing name of Catrina, which she and her husband own.  It’s at #104 Relox Street.

Croque ta Vie… a Gratonic Goodie!


              


Gluten and dairy-free health treats

reviewed by Nancy Snipper

Forget about the power bars and all those commercially attractively packaged foods that tell you no fat and really low in carbs. Who knows where the truth lies. Well, it lies in this sensational new snack product: Croque ta Vie.

What a great snack this foodie find is. The product is energizing and best of all, it’s gluten and dairy-free – created by a mother inspired by her children to create a fine foodie munchie that is 100% healthy.
They come in bars and bite-size bits.
Made by marathon runner, Sophie Pelletier-Roy in her Mirabel “kitchen”, Croque ta Vie makes granola bars and cereals from natural and organic ingredients with 10-12g of protein. They come in seven great flavours, including apple, chocolate, ginger, and more!

Enpowering and energizing for all ages. Gratonic is putting pure health in a delicious way into your body. I know, I couldn’t get enough of them when I tasted them at the press conference for Festival de Nouveau Cinema in Montreal.

You can go to croquetavie.com or on Facebook to see more information about the product.



Techniques Auto Verdun Inc.

The Garage with heart and a whole lot more! 

 by Nancy Snipper




Techniques Auto Verdun Inc.

In this day and age, it’s so difficult to find a garage that can fix your car from head to toe, and make you feel happy – even lucky that you nailed the best car doctor in town.   I’m talking about a very special garage: Techniques Auto Verdun Inc in Montreal, Quebec.
APA approved and owned by the Trinidadian-Canadian Dickson family of East-Indian descent, the garage is stocked with men whose smiles are as genuine and warm as the level of excellence of the work they do. These fellows have been repairing cars and doing superb body work for ten years, and they love what they do. They have two class-one mechanics working in the garage – a rarity to find such high qualifications these days. A team of family members work darn hard to get it right with your car and they always succeed. Their resident mechanic, veteran Claude Laneuville whom everyone calls the “yoda master" of mechanics has been with the garage for 40 years; he stayed on when the Dicksons bought it.

One stop shopping  that is so convenient
You’re never just a number at Techniques Auto Verdun. As Alan, the manager said, “We care so much about cars, as much we care about their owners – and that’s a lot”. In fact, when I brought my car in to fix the rust on both sides of the car at each door bottom, Alan was so committed into   getting rid of it. Karim – his body man – works on the aesthetics of cars, and this guy is amazing. Alan called me over to show me the job Karim did on my Hyundai, Elantra. I couldn’t believe it Wow!
What I loved was watching their enthusiasm and pride that made me know they strive for perfection to get an immaculate end result. They were as excited as I was. And boy, they produce results!
On the interior of the driver’s door, Karin had taken the panel off working to the bone sanding to ensure all rust was completely gone – rust that one can’t see unless that indoor panel is removed.

These guys are my car heroes!  
Can you believe it, but Alan actually walked over to my street where my car was parked before he even started the job - just to take a look. Now that’s a first. He spoke to me about why it was rusting and how to stop it further and possible options.
Being a single woman, I’ve been taken by poor workmanship and gouged where inflated costs to get my car fixed backed me into a corner to concede.
That didn’t happen with me here. I was astounded by their respect and reassurance. I could see they really stand by their word and workmanship.

 They’re honest and their integrity was obvious
They went the extra mile and then some. They even fixed the lopsided gas tank cover and touched up all the small areas that marked my car that was now approaching 10 years of age.  With their passion and incomparable expertise, they turned my car into a spanking slick-looking white car. No wonder, they are experts on high-end cars, such as jaguars and crème de la crème collector models, and though mine is a mere “commoner”, it didn’t matter to them. They took so much care in making it look like a high-end beauty. Plus it was ready in two days!!!
The price was so reasonable, especially since I know how expensive body work can run. I wanted to stay and chat, even hug them, for they truly rescued me. I knew where I would be heading in the event of any future car calamity.
“Thank you, Alan, Karim and the gang of great guys at Techniques Auto Verdun!”




Here is the garage’s address: 640 avenue Gordon, Verdun, QC H4G 2R9.
The phone number is (514) 751-2525.
Their email is: groupexotika@hotmail.com

Our Vets Have Been Voided!


by Nancy Snipper

In Canada’s fields the souls now fall
of those who risked their lives for all.
And now these vets are left behind
with other heroes of great heart and mind.
No gathering place to call their own,
All they get is to suffer alone.
Can’t be with others to share those times
Where bravery and fear were their only life-line.
To war they went, now home they die
Not by the enemy but by the Harper cry.
So cold of heart, so bleak of mind
A leader whose only care
is to kill their pride.
It’s so unfair.
Is this the way to thank them all?
Bleed them dry and take their dough
Oh Steven Harper, you reap what you sow.

“Oh Canada, our home and native land,
True patriot love”  
(in a song, but not for man!!)





{Written in response to Canada’s closing veteran offices}
{Écrit en réponse au  fermeture des bureaux vétéran par le Canada}

Lettre de la Fondation Cole à la Commission des institutions sur la loi 60





 
17 décembre 2013
Madame Valérie Roy
Secrétaire suppléante de la Commission des institutions
Édifice Pamphile-Le May
1035, rue des Parlementaires
3e étage, bureau 3.15
Québec (Québec) G1A 1A3

Objet : Projet de loi no 60

Madame,
La Fondation Cole, une fondation familiale privée de Montréal, souhaite vous présenter les commentaires suivants à propos du projet de loi no 60.
Nous croyons sincèrement qu’il n’y a aucun problème ni aucune crise à résoudre.
La séparation de l’Église et de l’État de même que l’égalité des hommes et des femmes sont actuellement garanties par les chartes des droits et libertés provinciale et fédérale.
Le Québec accueille des immigrants de toutes les cultures depuis des siècles. Tous les citoyens du Québec, sauf les membres des Premières Nations, sont des immigrants ou des descendants d’immigrants.
Selon l’une des politiques du système d’éducation du Québec, la diversité constitue une plateforme clé pour inculquer les valeurs qui aideront « à maintenir des relations interculturelles harmonieuses et à rejeter toute forme d’exclusion ». Cette politique permet le port de symboles et de vêtements religieux dans les écoles, que ce soit par les élèves, les enseignants ou le personnel.
Les mesures qui dénigrent les différences culturelles et excluent les minorités ne servent à rien et alimentent l’aliénation et les divisions sociales plutôt que la cohésion au sein de notre société.
La commission Bouchard-Taylor a traité avec créativité et réalisme de la question des
« accommodements raisonnables », qui faisait déjà l’objet de débats à l’échelle provinciale. Depuis la publication du rapport, les problèmes liés au code vestimentaire et aux relations entre les communautés culturelles ont été réglés de manière positive par les directions ou autorités compétentes. La Commission des droits de la personne du Québec rapporte que moins de 1 % des cas qu’elle traite concernent les accommodements raisonnables.
En conséquence, nous exhortons le gouvernement à retirer ce projet de loi, lequel tente de s’attaquer à un problème qui, en réalité, n’existe pas.

407, av. Clarke, Westmount (Québec) H3Y 3C3
Tél. : 514 938-9428 • Courriel : barrycole@videotron.ca


- 2 -
La commission Bouchard-Taylor a mentionné qu’il y avait encore beaucoup à faire pour améliorer l’accueil et les accommodements offerts aux minorités visibles et aux diverses communautés culturelles par les communautés francophones et anglophones du Québec.
La Fondation Cole a décidé d’aborder cette question en faisant notamment appel aux arts, en particulier au théâtre et à la littérature, pour aider tous les citoyens à élargir leurs horizons culturels et sociaux. Pour ce faire, nous avons financé la production, la traduction et la création de pièces qui présentent les réalités de diverses communautés culturelles à des auditoires francophones et anglophones afin d’ouvrir leurs perspectives sur les préoccupations des communautés culturelles, tout en évitant les confrontations, et de susciter compréhension, tolérance et respect à leur égard.
Au cours des 6 dernières années, nous avons financé l’écriture de 21 pièces, la traduction de 30 pièces ainsi que la production de 62 pièces et de 5 ateliers de théâtre pour le public montréalais. Certaines de ces productions ont effectué des tournées en province, dans le reste du Canada et même aux États-Unis, en Europe et en Amérique du Sud. Les subventions ont été accordées à des compagnies de théâtre professionnelles pour adultes et pour enfants.
Nous avons également financé les visites au Québec de 115 auteurs provenant de 30 pays différents à l’occasion du Festival littéraire international de Montréal Metropolis Bleu.
Dans le cadre de ces programmes, nous nous engageons à soutenir les politiques et les pratiques du gouvernement du Québec relatives à l’immigration et à l’éducation et à favoriser l’intégration de tous les citoyens au sein de notre société multiethnique où la diversité est acceptée, valorisée et comprise.
Jusqu’à maintenant, notre contribution financière dans ces secteurs de la culture québécoise s’élève à 1,25 million de dollars.
Le projet de loi no 60 va à l’encontre de l’harmonie sociale et culturelle du Québec que nous soutenons dans le cadre de nos programmes.
C’est pourquoi nous vous demandons de retirer ce projet de loi.
Veuillez recevoir, Madame Roy, mes salutations distinguées.

Barry Cole
Directeur général et président du conseil



« Encourager le dialogue théâtral entre les diverses communautés culturelles de Montréal »
 "Encourage theatrical dialogue between the various cultural communities in Montreal”