Community Activist

Rhonda Massad – Community Activist

Rhonda focuses on community issues that touch the heart of many on the West Island. She lends her social media force to local charities to give them a voice. Through her viral West Island Blog, she can help those in need reach out and get much-needed resources that they may otherwise not know about. This match making has become an integral part of her efforts to unite the community.

She sat on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the West Island and continues to volunteer for the cause today. During her youngest child’s term at West Island College Rhonda sat on their board as well.

In 2016, Rhonda and her friend Stephanie started the Neighbours 4 Neighbours food drive, a one-day event, which raised more than 750 cases of food for those in need on the West Island. The food and monies raised that day were donated to local food banks such as On Rock, West Island Assistance Fund, John Abbott Food Bank, Sainte Anne’s Food Bank and West Island Mission. This years event will take place on November 4, 2017.

During the spring 2017 flooding on the West Island, Rhonda spearheaded the Food Drive Depot at Fairview and Pointe Claire Plaza which raised more than 6,000 cases of food a day for six days which benefitted the flood victims by way of West Island Mission and On Rock Community Services. Hundreds of volunteers came to join her in her quest to lessen the suffering of those in need. Her blog joined forces with other West Island social media groups to inform those impacted throughout the crisis. West Island Community Shares partnered with Rhonda mid way to provide infrastructure for fundraising. The special fund has raised close to $75,000 to date.

In 2017, Rhonda was appointed a Canada 150 Community Leader by Heritage Canada. Within the network of more than 870 Community Leaders country wide there is an exchange ideas, information, and experiences about the activities and events in their community. Not only that, they bring national attention to local celebrations throughout 2017 and beyond.

Rhonda is currently a member of the Canadian Women’s Congress and volunteers for the West Island Women’s Shelter. Rhonda can often be found trumpeting praise for charitable groups such as the West Island Wellness Centre, West Island Community Shares, Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation and West Island Palliative Care to name only a few.

TV News Reports

Bloggers fight for accessible playgrounds.

Two women want Montreal municipal councils to create committees so families can offer feedback and suggestions when planning new parks and playground upgrades. Two West Island bloggers are teaming up to draw attention to the need for more accessible parks and playgrounds in Montreal. Although one in seven Canadians live with a disability, the majority of Montreal parks aren’t designed to accommodate visitors with limited mobility, visual or hearing impairments and other challenges.

Christine Latreille of strollerparking.ca (a playground review site) and Rhonda Massad of westIslandblog.com (pictured left) said they hope that by joining forces they can challenge Montreal municipalities to rethink playground design to ensure all children have a place to play.

Montreal Mayor declares state of emergency amid threat of rising flood waters

A whopping 146 municipalities across Quebec face a growing threat from rising waters — nearly 1,900 homes have been affected by flooding.

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre declared a state of emergency for his city. About 1,200 Canadian Forces personnel have been called in to help with sandbagging and other emergency measures.

Rhonda Massad, a resident of Beaconsfield, Que., in Montreal’s West Island, has been helping with volunteer efforts to save people’s homes from the flood waters.

“It’s always bittersweet because it’s a terrible situation. But our community is outstanding,” Massad tells The Current’s Anna Maria Tremonti.

Rhonda Massad – CBC News Network

May 7, 2017

Rhonda Massad spoke with Michael Serapio about the flooding in her Montreal neighbourhood

Articles

Montreal Gazette: Quebec floods: West Island volunteer spirit shifts into high gear

West Islanders’ spirit of volunteerism kicked into high gear, as thousands were out helping neighbours get back on their feet from disastrous flooding. READ MORE

CISION : Meet the Blogger: Rhonda Massad, West Island Blog.

On West Island Blog, Rhonda Massad covers local events and profiles the people, businesses and charities that make her community special. READ MORE

West Island Assistance Fund wins $1,000 from Neighbours 4 Neighbours Food Drive

More than 1,000 people gave of their hearts to those in need at the November, Neighbours 4 Neighbours Food Drive in Beaconsfield, many of whom boarded the Desjardins mobile branch to peruse the new bus but also to choose a charity who would be the recipient of $1,000 from Desjardins.

Out of the ten charities available, all worthy causes on the West Island, West Island Assitance Fund (WIAF) won this year’s votes.

Are people really going without food on the West Island?

The West Island of Montreal is well known for high-quality family living. Waterfront estates, high-end condos, and homes are commonplace. But Senneville, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Baie-D’Urfé, Ile Bizard, Beaconsfield, Dollard des Ormeaux, Kirkland, Dorval and Pierrefonds all have something else in common. Poverty.

FOOD DROPOFF POINT SET UP AT FAIRVIEW MALL

UPDATE: Fairview dropoff centre moved to Plaza Pointe Claire. It’ll be open from 10-6 on Thursday and Friday, and 10-5 on Saturday.

If you’re looking for ways to help flood-weary West Islanders, the Fairview mall in Pointe-Claire has offered up one of its empty shops.

Organized by West Island Blog’s Rhonda Massad, the old American Apparel store near Sears has been setup as a drop off/in centre. Volunteers are on hand to take donations and help flood victims in need.

West Island Palliative Care says Thank you

This was my second visit to the West Island Palliative Care Residence. Well my third, I could not get over the fear the first time I went to visit a colleague who was spending his last days there, so it does not count. I was heart broken and wanted to say goodbye to Brian but froze in fear at the door. As in most times when serious things are happening to people they are strong and elegant – this was no exception. Brian’s wife was kind and came to the door to see me and reassured me it was fine. That he would understand. Maybe he would understand but I couldn’t.

‘Enough is enough’: West Island residents push back against tax hikes

More than 100 West Island residents gathered to protest tax hikes imposed on demerged cities in front of Pointe-Claire City Hall on Sunday. Protesters criticized Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, saying that the current system isn’t fair. “Taxation without representation is not acceptable. We’re not going to take this lying down anymore,” said event organizer Rhonda Massad.

Residents and mayors of demerged cities call for Plante to revisit budget

On Sunday afternoon, West Islanders came out and spoke up. “I was disappointed because her sign that was right behind her said I will not raise the taxes,” said Pointe-Claire resident Sandy Fuller. “And I think she just decided that once she was in, well I won my position as first woman mayor, and now I’m going to give them the budget.”

The 2018 budget Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante presented has been widely criticized, mainly because of its tax increase.

Residents and mayors of demerged cities rally for change on municipal budget, agglomeration council

More than 250 people of Montreal’s demerged municipalities gathered at Pointe-Claire city hall Sunday afternoon to protest Mayor Plante’s proposed budget tax hikes. For the 15 demerged cities, including Baie D’Urfe, Beaconsfield, Kirkland, Cote-Saint-Luc, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Dorval, Hampstead, Kirkland, Dorval Island, Town of Mount Royal, Montreal East, Montreal West, Pointe-Claire, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Senneville and Westmount, the new budget brings tax hikes that are almost double what they were in recent years.