A Saturday walk that included: Paroisse Saint-Léon de Westmount, Ascension of Our Lord, Westmount City Hall, the lawn bowling club house, Westmount Park and the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church.

Walking past the recreation centre and following the network of lanes used, in years past, for coal and ice deliveries.

Today’s walk between the rain storms along Melville Avenue (named after a church on the street) that runs adjacent to the park. The street had two former names: Dufferin and Elgin. The second image is a bit deceptive in its peaceful appearance.

One man was killed and another injured yesterday when the car they were riding in was ripped apart by a powerful explosion as it travelled down a quiet street in affluent Westmount.”
Globe and Mail, October 28, 1981

Apparently, an explosive device was placed inside a 1977 Mercedes. The news article provides further details:

“The bomb went off… as the car drove south along Melville Avenue… after the blast it continued down the street for about 200 feet before jumping a sidewalk, knocking down a signpost and coming to a halt (in a) softball diamond directly in front of Westmount Park Public School… about a dozen windows in an apartment building were shattered by the force of the explosion and flying debris.”

Luckily, no bystanders were injured – thankfully, it was a study day at the school and because it was raining, when this occurred, no children or their parents were at the park.

One must agree that appearances can be deceptive and that there is a collective amnesia about such events.

Overall, an interesting walk resulting in a (very) tired dog.

The inherent beauty of nature visible in gardens that are not manicured.

A hot Sunday afternoon at the park. Mostly family and friends socializing. The minority were keeping a safe distance apart and, as the weeks go by, fewer people are wearing masks. I suspect, that after 15 months of changing rules and regulations most people are tired (or confused) of the entire process.

There is, however, one positive note – for once in their lives most people have taken an active interest in the field of public health.

Saturday afternoon at the park – strangely quiet. With the gradual easing of covid restrictions, fewer people are taking refuge amongst the trees and lawns.