Westmount Community

When Rugby Meets art. No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. This year, The Westmount Ravens annual banquet’s theme will be a “vernissage” with art in display by it’s fine athletes, letting their inner Van Gogh come to the surface.

The evening will be held on Saturday, December 3rd @ Christ Church Cathedral, and begin at 6pm with the art exhibition, followed by the team dinner. The paintings will be on sale, and tickets for the exhibition and dinner are 30$. At 9pm, the party kicks off in earnest. Tickets for the party are only 5$. So come join the 2011 FRQ Division Champions and party with men who know how to party: rugby men!

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Quand le rugby rencontre l’art. non, vos yeux ne sont pas en train de vous jouer un mauvais tour. le thème du gala des Westmount Ravens cette année est bien “un vernissage” avec une exposition d’oeuvres d’art réalisées par ses meilleurs joueurs, laissant le Van Gogh qui est en eux s’exprimer.

La soirée débute elle aux alentours de 21 heures. Les billets sont au prix de $5.

Venez nombreux fêter le titre de champion du Québec avec ceux qui savent faire la fête, les rugbymen!

A fantastic review by The Westmount Examiner of the WRC’s first family day. Check it out!

Three generations of rugby enthusiasts spent a sunny Saturday afternoon at Westmount Park on Aug. 6, eating burgers and hot dogs while catching up with old friends – all in support of the Westmount Rugby Club.

“It’s a fantastic turnout,” club president Tony O’Driscoll said of the family day fundraiser. “Complete success. I couldn’t be happier.”

About 150 turned out for the event, including many parents who watched from the sidelines as their kids played a few friendly matches with other youth from Rugby Club de Montreal (RCM) and Rugby XV de Montreal.

O’Driscoll said what sets rugby apart from other sports is that it’s affordable and transcends height and weight restrictions common in other sports like basketball and football. “It’s open to everybody,” he said. “That’s why kids find it so attractive.”

The club supports youth development through its Mini Rugby program, which runs from May to June. Kids aged 8 to 12 spend Sunday mornings running, passing and learning the basics of tackling, if qualified.

“There are bruises each week, but there are a great many rewards as well,” said Matt Harrington, father of Maeve, 8, who is in the Mini’s program. “Rugby teaches teamwork and discipline. It teaches you that you have to work very hard to accomplish what you want.”

Considering the intensity of the game, safety is of the utmost concern. Up until the age of 12, there is no tackling, just touch. There are also strict penalties for foul play. Offenders can be kicked off the field, banned from the game or even fined in extreme cases.

Adults also took to the field.

Westmount players from the last four decades donned their gum shields once again in an opening match between the Old Boys and rookies. “We’re happy to report the Old Boys absolutely murdered the rookies,” said O’Driscoll.

“It was pretty good to play against the young guys.” says Alexandre Pellerin, who retired from the Ravens last year but came out with his family to play and watch the Westmount Ravens take on the Montreal Exiles for the main event.

“It’s a great game,” he said. “We’re winning.”

“Come on Westmount, you lazy sack of bones,” yelled Tom Edmeades from the sidelines. The former captain of the Ravens was sitting out indefinitely due to injuries, but still came to help out the team by grilling burgers. “They’re my family,” he said. “I met all my friends through rugby or associations through rugby. I had to come.”

Energy was high as the Westmount crowd cheered on their local team to victory, 66-14.

“I feel very proud of the team,” said Nicole Fortunaso, who came out to support her brother Jamie Fortunaso. “The Ravens have been kicking butt the last couple of games.”

“When I used to play, there wasn’t the depth and support that this club has today,” said Clive Ebden, who retired from the Westmount team 19 years ago. “They’ve come a long way.”

For more information, visit the Westmount Rugby Club’s website at http://westmountrugby.com/ or their Facebook page under Westmount Rugby Club. If your children are interested in participating with the Mini’s, contact JS Paul via email at jsebpaul@gmail.com.

WRC has completed another season of its mini rugby program, to great praise from the parents and the city of Westmount. “Our program welcomed an average of 25 kids every Sunday afternoon for 6 weeks and practices consisted in basic rugby skills like passing, kicking and team play. We’ve introduced with great success the basics of tackling and laws of the game” says Jean-Sebastien Paul, the man behind the program. “Every session ended with a full game of touch rugby. We’re looking forward to next season where we will introduce competitive games with other clubs.” A lot of the senior players were involved and had a blast running around with the kids.

Many parents were impressed with the program, and one of them mused: “Congratulations on letting kids have fun while doing constructive work with them, not as simple as it sounds”, a sentiment echoed throughout the community. The Westmount Ravens are proud to be giving back and plan to do it all over again next year. Stay tuned for details!

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WRC a terminé une autre saison de son programme de rugby mini, avec beaucoup d’éloges des parents et la ville de Westmount. «Notre programme a accueilli une moyenne de 25 enfants tous les dimanches après-midi pendant 6 semaines et les pratiques ont consisté à apprendre les compétences de base du rugby tels que passer le ballon, botter le ballon et le jeu d’équipe. Nous avons introduit avec succès les rudiments du placage et les lois du jeu», déclare Jean-Sébastien Paul, l’homme derrière le programme. «Chaque séance s’est terminée par un match de touch rugby. Nous avons hâte à la saison prochaine, où nous allons introduire des jeux compétitifs avec d’autres clubs.” Un grand nombre de joueurs seniors ont participé et se sont très amusés à courir avec les enfants.

Beaucoup de parents ont été impressionnés par le programme, et l’un d’eux avait ceci à dire: «Félicitations pour laisser les enfants s’amuser tout en accomplissant un travail constructif avec eux, ce n’est pas aussi simple que cela semble!», un sentiment partagé dans la communauté. Les Ravens de Westmount sont fiers de redonner à la communauté et planifient de le faire une fois de plus l’année prochaine. Restez à l’écoute pour plus de détails!

Jeremy Moore is organising a club event at the Old brewery. The old brewery is a mission dedicated to helping those less fortunate living here in Montreal. The guys who confirm will be serving, already prepared food, to these Men.

Jeremy is looking for a number volunteer to help out to serve meals. If you are available then please contact Jeremy through Google groups.

The Ravens will be making their annual pilgrimage  to NYC on American Thanksgiving.  The club is very excited to announce that this years tour is dedicated to raising funds for prostate cancer research.  The team will sporting the finest in facial hair fashion in support of Movember.

You can support Westmount Rugby’s fundraising effort by donating to our Movember Team

RSVP Here!

The hill sprints are done and the head tape is put away. Bruises and shattered shoulders are

healing and that nagging limp seems to have just about cleared up.
Tuesday and thursday evenings feel strangely empty and you’re not
quite sure what sure what saturdays are for now. Yes, sad but true,
rugby season is over once again.
So, it’s time to celebrate as only Ravens can. Drinks, excellent
food, prizes, raffles, cheap drinks, dancing, speeches, awards and
loads of cheap drinks.

Le jogging avec un sac à dos rempli de roches est fini, et le protège-
dents est retourné avec les bas dans le tiroir. Les bleus s’estompent
lentement, et nous marchons de moins en moins comme des vieillards
(mis à part Tony… . Les mardis et jeudis soirs semblent étrangement
vides, et on ne sait plus trop à quoi servent les samedis maintenant.
C’est triste mais vrai, la saison de rugby est encore une fois
terminée.
C’est donc le temps de célébrer comme seuls les Ravens savent le
faire. De l’alcool pas cher, un repas cinq étoiles, de la musique pour
danser, des prix et des trophées (en l’honneur des bons et des moins
bons coups), encore de l’alcool, des tirages, des discours longs et
émotifs, et toujours plus d’alcool.

***

RSVP Here!

When:-  November 13th 2010, doors open 6.30pm

Quand:- Le 13 novembre 2010, à partir de 18h30

Where:-1444 Union (between St Catherine and de Maisonneuve).
Où:- 1444 rue Union (entre Ste-Catherine et de Maisonneuve).

Dress code:-  ‘Formal, with one shocking item’.
For example, black tie with a set of antlers, or for the ladies,
evening dress with a pair of snow boots. Please Gentlemen, keep it
clean.
Code vestimentaire : « Tenue chic, avec un détail choc »
Par exemple, cravate noire et panache d’orignal, ou pour ces dames,
robe de soirée et bottes de ski-doo. Mais s’il-vous-plaît messieurs,
gardez-vous une petite gêne.
Tickets :- $60 (full rate)
$45 (student rate)
There is also a $30 Drinks and Dancing ticket available for friends
and anyone who might like to come after food.

Billets : 60$ (45$ pour les étudiants)
Un billet fin de soirée est aussi disponible (30$) pour ceux qui
veulent seulement venir boire et danser après le repas.
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Please remember that this is our main fundraiser for the year, so the
more people you can get to come, the better. Bring girlfriends, wives,
friends, long lost relatives.

Westmount start their post-season journey this weekend with a home game against Montreal XV. A victory would put them in the Semi-Finals, and two wins away from the Plate.

The Ravens are looking forward to an enthusiastic home field crowd as they take to the pitch on Saturday.

Venue: Westmount Park

Address: Corner of Melville and Sherbrooke West

Date: Saturday, September 18th

Kickoff time: 3:00pm

View Westmount Ravens Home Field in a larger map

If you saw Invictus, then you didn’t see rugby as played by real men.

Celebrate the birth of our nation by supporting the oldest rugby club in the country.  We play our home opener against Trois-Rivières on the Canada Day long weekend in Westmount Park.  Momentum is clearly behind us with two victories and the chance to solidify our position near the top of the table.

As this is opening weekend, the day won’t end with the final whistle.  After game drinks will be held at the Forum, with festivities continuing through the night.

Go Westmount!

The Westmount Ravens is the  oldest rugby club in North America and back in the day Westmount had a club house right next to Westmount high.  Celebrating 132 years of rugby we are looking to rebuild the club back to the glory days and we need funds to help build a club house so we can store our memorabilia and where we can hang out after matches and training.

We ask kindly if you could donate $1 to help build a club house so we have place a donation button on the side menu.

Thank you for contributing and keeping rugby alive in North America and Montreal!

The Westmount Ravens kicked off their 2010 season with a road trip to Trois-Rivières to battle Les Braves. With a mostly new player line up from last season the Ravens fought hard for victory but it proved too elusive in the first match of the year. As expected the Braves were an experienced unit who executed the rugby basics well and surged to a two try lead in the fist 20 mins. The Ravens stayed in touch on the score board through the accurate boot of new recruit Julien Marrel who was 100% on the day with 3 from 3 penalty kicks.

The Ravens behind at the half by two tries, came out for the second breathing fire and fought hard to get back in the match. They built pressure and gained territory well resulting in poor discipline from the Braves handing Julien his 3rd penalty and the Braves a yellow card. The Ravens seized on the one man advantage pinning the Braves behind their own 22m line which resulted in two unsuccessful breaches of the Braves try line. Barging prop Karl Frigan was very unlucky not to be awarded a try on the second crossing. Fitness proved to be the difference in the last 15 minutes with the Ravens defence stretched out wide allowing two tries in the last 10 minutes. Final score was 39-9(thereabouts).

Whilst it was a disappointing start to the season many lessons where learned and the Ravens remain confident of a successful 2010 season. Special mention to Kevin, Christophe & Benoit on playing their very first competitive rugby matches. Also congratulations to Man of the Match Tom ‘BC’ Edmeades with an inspiring lead from the front performance and never say die attitude. Special thanks to all the supporters, wives and girlfriends who made the trip out to Trois-Rivières to cheer on the Ravens in their season opener.

I was pointed out by friends that there was a fantastic article in the Suburban.  Which is Quebec’s biggest English paper.  The article features an interview with club coach and Westmount old boy Henry Rozenblat.

To check out the article head to the Suburban and read about rugby in Montreal.  One thing we would like to know is which team is in that photo as it is definitely not the Westmount Ravens

Please support our friends at Centre Greene.  They are having a book sale this weekend so show your support as this book sale will fund the children summer camp!

Mini-Rugby Montreal is a very important part of the growth of the team, it ensures our presence in the community and spreads the Gospel of Rugby to young kids who are being forced-fed hockey & soccer at school

JS and Tom will be leading the activities, that are taking place from May 2nd to June 20th. On a sunday afternoon and have fun with the kids, showing them how to play rugby through the drills Tom & JS will have set up.

Super cool and super easy!

The Centre Greene is having a book sale this weekend and needs some strong youg lads to help carry the boxes up from their basement. We have agreed to be there at 6pm tomorrow night. So if you are free tomorrow come support your club’s community centre and do some fitness at the same time.

It may improve everyone’s redding and righting skills

[[ CLUB DE RUGBY DE WESTMOUNT INC. ]]

SOYEZ PRÉVENUS qu’une assemblée générale annuelle pour l’année 2009, des membres de la compagnie CLUB DE RUGBY DE WESTMOUNT INC. sera tenue au bureau de BARON ABRAMS, 4141 rue Sherbrooke O., #200, Westmount, Québec, Mecredi  le 24^e mars 2010, à 19h00.

(a)        approuver les états financier de la compagnie, le relève des recettes et dépenses ainsi que le rapport du Trésorier pour l’exercice financier de la compagnie;

(b)        élire les administrateurs et officiers de la compagnie;

(c)        recevoir les rapports des officiers;

(d)       sanctionner les actes des administrateurs et des officiers poses pendant les deux dernière années fiscale; et

(e)        discuter de toute autre question pourrait être soumise à l’assemblée.

MONTRÉAL, ce 24e jour de février 2010.

_______________________________

PETER S. MARCOVITZ, Secrétaire

[[ WESTMOUNT RUGBY CLUB INC. ]]

NOTICE is hereby given of the Annual General Meeting for the year 2009, of the members of WESTMOUNT RUGBY CLUB INC., pursuant to the  By-laws of the Corporation.  The Meeting will deal with the items in the Agenda below which shall be deemed to form part of this Notice for purposes of compliance with Club regulations.

The Meeting shall be held at the offices of Baron Abrams, 4141 Sherbrooke St. W., Suite 200, Westmount, Quebec, on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010, at 7:00 p.m.

AGENDA FOR THE MEETING

(1)        Approval of Minutes of 2009 Annual General Meeting;

(2)        President’s report;

(3)        Treasurer’s report;

(4)        Captain’s report;

(5)        Vice-Captain’s report;

(6)        Social Secretary’s report;

(7)        Fixtures Secretary’s report;

(8)        Secretary’s report and request for:

(a) Approval of By-Laws and Minutes; and

(b) Sanction and ratification of all actions taken by the offices and Directors throughout past year;

(9)        Election of Directors;

(10)      Election of Officers; and

(11)      Other business that may properly be brought before the Meeting.

MONTREAL, this 24th day of February 2010.

_______________________________

PETER S. MARCOVITZ, Secretary

Our Club is founded on strong team spirit and friendship and one of our departing members Red Shannon wrote a fanastic article for the Westmount Examiner. Thanks Red for the great article we will miss your 8ft frame winning the line outs and good luck with future Endeavours.

Thanks to the Westmount Examiner for printing the article. We truely do enjoy the community support as well as participating in the Westmount community.  Please check out the article at the Examiner website.

Westmount Rugby in Action