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, award winning, news blog, the 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.

Rhonda sits on the board of directors of Ricochet, an emergency homeless shelter for youth in the West Island.

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.

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, Ste Anne’s Food Bank and John Abbott College Food Bank. 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.

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

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 Assitance 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.