At Union, at Desta, at CEDA  and with the Liberals Everyone in the barbershop was talking about the one-year anniversary of the election of the Liberal government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. It was a landslide victory. It was high fives all around, and everyone shouting: “It’s Miller Time.” They were talking about Marc Miller, the MP for southwest Montreal. Professor said, “Unlike the previous government, when you call MP Miller’s office, his political attaché, Lisa Montgomery, will answer the phone and listen to your complaint, problem, whatever….” There was an “Amen!” Deacon walked into the barbershop and immediately …

Above everything else The weather is getting cold, but that didn’t stop the Ways and Means Committee from convening at the barbershop. It was crowded. There were whispers about Thanksgiving and that other major holiday eating season, which is slowly coming on: Ho Ho Ho… Many people of particular religions do not celebrate ho, ho, ho, even though it’s the biggest celebration period in the Western world. Money put up his hand and said, “I want silence.” He then told To Be Honest to turn off the Dr. Oz Show. “People are complaining about they have no money or can’t …

Money, politics, race and repercussions… People are taking a stand in a changing world It was another hot, humid, Montreal day. But for some unknown reason this particular day was extra hot. Maybe because it was approaching the end of August and life was getting back to normal. They call this time of year the ‘Dog days of summer’, and everyone was coming into the barbershop perspiring. One of the regulars of the Ways and Means Committee came in with some sad news that a lady named Maude Christopher Johnson had passed away. Just Chillin’ said, “Amen! Maude is gone …

Is anyone listening, or hearing? Another hot, humid day in Montreal, summer still rolling on. But that didn’t matter to the people in the barbershop; the air conditioner was humming… Everybody had something to say, because there’s so much going on locally and internationally. The Olympics are on and everybody was giving each other high fives, because Nirra Fields from Montreal and Lyzanne Murphy are representing Canada on the women’s Olympics basketball team. The reason why they’re representing Canada is because they deserve to be there. A lot of knowledgeable people in the barbershops across Montreal say that both of …

It was another hot summer’s day in Montreal, tourists walking the streets of downtown Montreal. God Bless America and the Benjamins! Down at the barbershop the air conditioner was working overtime. Midnight was in town, just back from the Caribana extravaganza in Toronto, so he stopped by for a visit. He couldn’t stop talking about how successful it was. “Even the mayor of Toronto was dancing on a float,” he said. “The whole city was behind Caribana. It generated over $400 million, more than the Formula 1 (Grand Prix) and the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Singularly or combined, none of …

Summer so far in Montreal It was another typical July day in Montreal: hot, hazy, humid… Summer has taken over. So the Barbershop was crowded. Everyone was still on the mantra: It’s Miller Time! Lisa Montgomery, political attaché for Marc Miller, MP for Southwest Montreal was telling everybody through social media that “Oliver Jones is a national treasure” and that she’s working with Parcs Canada to “do something special for the world’s greatest Jazz pianist down around the popular Lachine Canal.” Oliver Jones was born in the area, Little Burgundy, so he could talk to everyone about growing up in …

The barbershop was crowded, as it always is, but especially because it’s summertime and it’s still Miller Time—as in Marc Miller, MP in the Southwest district of Montreal. Everybody was talking and texting… when Just Chillin and Professor walked in. Professor quickly raised his hand and said, “We can all sing together, but we can’t all talk together.” Everybody said, “Amen!” Professor continued, “If you read the July 4, 2016, Montreal Gazette,” about P.K. Subban, the superstar with the Montreal Canadiens who got traded to the Nashville Predators. Columnist Jack Todd wrote, “There are profound cultural differences between players like …

The barbershop was crowded. Everybody was in a good mood. Summer! Just Chillin’ was ready to go. He put up his hand and asked everyone to be quiet, quiet…  and said, “Did you know that Bob White does not write that column for the CommunityCONTACT? I found out what he does. He goes around to different barbershops with the regulars of the Ways and Means Committee, gets the 411 from everybody and then submits it to the CONTACT.” Like the other day, they were talking about the West Island Rhythm and Blues Festival, although the organizers call it the West …

The barbershop was particularly crowded. The weather was good like a Montreal summer, so everybody was stopping by and greeting each other with high fives, and joining the conversation about plans for the summer. Just Chillin walked in and said, “Did you hear what happened?” A regular of the Ways and Means Committee responded, “A whole lotta things are happening. What specifically you talking’ about?” Just Chillin continued, “The greatest is gone…” Crystal interrupted, “Make it clear. What you talkin’ about the greatest is gone? Be clear, whaddya mean the greatest is gone?” Just Chillin said, “Muhammad Ali, he died, …

Wealth, Politics, Health The barbershop was crowded as usual. Everybody was talking about their kids’ graduating this year, all in agreement that they want their kids to have a better life than they had. Especially since they all saw the speech President Barack Obama made to the graduating class at Howard University. He said, “This is the best time, now, not the 60s or the 70s.” Now is the best time to be mentally alert about what’s going on around you. To Be Honest put up his hand and asked Me Personally, “Did you read the last issue of CommunityCONTACT, …