This was such a fun interview - I went to J-School with her sister!

Westmount designer Eugenia Leavitt talks about making the cut

Westmount designer Eugenia Leavitt works full-time at designer Astri Prugger’s Westmount boutique, while maintaining her own studio and an original line of women’s wear.

Published on October 28th, 2010

Elisabeth Faure

“I never imagined I’d be on a reality show!” laughs fashion designer Eugenia Leavitt.

Topics :

La Collection , TVA , Westmount

But the 29-year old Westmount native says she has no regrets about being on TVA reality show “La Collection”. “It meant facing some fears that I have, but I’m so happy I did it,” says Leavitt.

“La Collection” is a “Project-Runway”-style show. Leavitt is one of 10 young designers competing to be the last one standing.

Leavitt, describes herself as a quiet and introverted person, and says her decision to join a reality show took people by surprise. “I was kind of shocked myself, that I did it,” she says. “I decided to apply and see what would happen, after several people suggested I should do it,” she says.

The audition process was intense. “There were three or four rounds, we were interviewed a lot, so they could get a sense of our personalities. We had to bring in work samples, and there were mini-challenges - things like making a dress out of tissue paper.”

Language was an additional challenge - Leavitt is the only Anglophone cast member on the show.

“It was frustrating in the sense that I couldn’t always express myself the way I wanted to, on the spot,” admits Leavitt. But she says she got nothing but support from her Francophone cast-mates - “I always felt totally accepted.”

When Leavitt learned she had been chosen, she says she was “terrified, but I thought - I can’t say no to this - it’s such a good opportunity.”

It meant leaving her newborn son, Theo, at home for the duration of the shoot.

“We were secluded in a hotel, we couldn’t call our friends or family - only my husband knew about the show while we were filming,” says Leavitt.

The show’s second episode featured a dramatic scene of Leavitt in tears, saying she missed her son - complete with melancholy background music.

When Leavitt learned she had been chosen, she says she was “terrified, but I thought - I can’t say no to this - it’s such a good opportunity.”-

“I used to laugh so hard at people who cried like that on reality shows!” jokes Leavitt. “But, when it’s the end of a long day, and people are in your face, prompting you with difficult questions, it’s very hard.”

Leavitt says that now Theo is a bit older, it’s easier to balance her work and mom duties - she’s even working on a new line of children’s smocks and aprons, called “Doozy”. “It’s for kids helping Mommy out in the kitchen,” says Leavitt.

In the meantime, Leavitt has plenty to keep her occupied. She works full-time at designer Astri Prugger’s Westmount boutique, while maintaining her own studio and an original line of women’s wear. “I use environmentally friendly fabrics, and I do mostly cocktail wear,” says Leavitt. “But I also do custom work, wedding dresses or made-to-measure items.”

Leavitt is tight-lipped about what’s next on “La Collection”. “I am not allowed to talk about that!” she laughs. But she guarantees there’s lots of fashion and drama left to tune in for. She’s still in touch with many of her cast-mates, and her memories of the show are positive. “We were all thrown together in this competition...we all share the experience of this reality show, which is a crazy experience - even watching the show on TV is not the same as living it!”

How far does Leavitt make it? You’ll have to tune in to TVA on Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. to find out.

To view more of Leavitt’s work, visit her website: eugeniadesigns.com

Fashion frenzy

Fashion goes crazy

Montreal fashionistas can get the latest looks for less this weekend. La Grande Braderie de Mode Québécoise (aka The Big Quebec Fashion Sale) starts today and runs through Sunday at Old Montreal’s Marché Bonsecours. Over 100 local designers will offer the latest styles at reduced prices to fashion-hungry shoppers.

Come prepared for action. “It’s a madhouse, it’s totally insane,” says designer Katrin Leblond, who will be participating in the sale for the first time this year.

“If you like something, don’t think twice. If you walk away to think about it, the item you liked will be gone.” Other tips? Bring your own tote bag, and plenty of cash, to make transactions faster.

Leblond says the small market that Quebec designers service means that sometimes they over-produce, and are left with a surplus. “I’ve got three years’ worth of loot I’m bringing, and a lot of those items are my best-sellers.”

The sale runs from 10 a.m.–9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. See the list of designers atbraderiedemodequebecoise.com.

One final piece of advice? “Wear nice underwear, because you’ll be changing in front of people,” says Leblond. “Or bring a tape measure if you’re shy.”

—ELISABETH FAURE

Mom 2 Be

Intro to babies

Montreal’s Mom2Be, an organization that twins expectant parents and services and companies designed to help them, is holding its fourth annual kid-friendly expo on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Hotel Ruby Foo’s (7655 Decarie). Whether you’re a parent or you’re considering starting a family, there’s lots to check out.

“It’s something well-rounded for the parents, and the kids,” says spokesperson Laurie Alloway. “We provide variety—you are not going to see the same old thing. New parents will get a lot of information.”

Activities include a demonstration on preventing infant choking from Bébé-Sécure, a mommy-friendly fashion show, plus inkless hand- and foot-printing.

Although the entire event is free, money is still being raised for a good cause. Proceeds from an on-site raffle will go directly to the neonatal unit of the Montreal Children’s Hospital. “We have been doing this from the beginning, because we want to help newborns and their families,” says Alloway.

Raffle prizes include high-end items like strollers and high-chairs with price tags in the hundreds of dollars. You can buy tickets on-site, but pre-registry gets you one free raffle ticket and a gift bag. The expo runs from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Dads- and grandparents-to-be are welcome. For more info, visit montrealmom2be.com.

—ELISABETH FAURE

Marché St- Jacques

Art deco tasty

Good news for downtown dwellers. The Marché St-Jacques (1125 Ontario E., corner Amherst) officially re-opened as of yesterday, Wednesday, Oct. 27. That means you no longer have to hoof it to Atwater or Jean-Talon Market for a fresh foodie fix.

“It’s about eating locally and buying locally,” says Gilles Jourdonnais of Fromagerie Atwater, which has a store at the market. Jourdonnais notes that prior to the market’s opening, neighbourhood res idents didn’t have a lot of food shopping options.

The once-thriving Art Deco market was built in 1931. Over the years, the building fell into disrepair, and the interior businesses closed down. Pains have been taken to restore the building to the glory of its heyday. “We are really thrilled this building is being used for its original purpose,” says Sandra Cohen-Rose, founding president of Art Deco Montreal.

The market is open from 9 a.m.–7 p.m. Monday to Friday, and on weekends from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. On top of providing fresh local food, merchants want to help revitalize the area in other ways. Jourdonnais says the market plans to hold evening events and vernissages.

So far, response from residents has been fantastic, according to Jourdonnais. “We are ready and raring to go,” he says. “People were waiting for this.”

—ELISABETH FAURE

Ca Marche

Fighting AIDS on foot

AIDS walk Ça Marche celebrates its 18th anniversary this Sunday, Sept. 19. The seven-kilometre walk raises funds for the Farha Foundation, which assists AIDS and HIV organizations in Que bec.

“The goal of the walk is of course to raise money, but also to raise awareness,” says Linda Farha, whose brother, Ron, started the Farha Foundation before losing his own life to AIDS in 1993. She notes that raising money for HIV and AIDS has become more challenging in recent years, due to public misperception about how serious the disease still is. “People think they’ve found a cure, they see people living longer… but the reality is, there is no cure,” says Farha.

The walk starts in Parc Émilie-Gamelin, by Berri metro. Start time is 10:30 a.m., but walkers are encouraged to arrive early. Organizers expect between 6,000–8000 walkers, and have set a fundraising goal of $450,000. Donations are encouraged, but it’s free to participate.

The walk’s route will feature entertainment, including singers Randi Katz, Colin Moore and Bruno Labrie of Star Académie fame. “It’s a spiritual event, but there’s always something entertaining going on, keeping you touched by the cause,” says Farha.

To learn more about Ça Marche, or to make a donation, visit the Farha Foundation’s website at farha.qc.ca.

—ELISABETH FAURE

Burlesque Fest

KEEPING THE “BUR” IN BURLESQUE: Scarlett James

Burlesque fest turns two

Get out your pasties! The second annual Montreal International Burlesque Festival, running from today, Thursday, Sept. 23 through Sunday, Sept. 26, brings the best of bur lesque to the city. Organizer Scarlett James, the “Countess of Burlesque,” promises this year’s program features all sorts of naughty goodness.

Tonight, there’s an “O-Canada” burlesque show. “I really wanted to make the point that in Canada, we have amazing artists. I want the world to recognize that,” says James. That’s just the beginning.

Other acts include “boy-lesque” (male striptease). “The girls will be thrilled over this, and gay men will be in love with these performers!” says James, who adds, “they have god-like bodies.”

Industry legends in attendance include burlesque icon Satan’s Angel. She performed in Montreal back in its ’50s heyday as an international burlesque capital. At the age of 66, she can still light her tassels on fire with the best of ’em. “I’m very excited about the legends,” says James. She believes it’s important for performers from burlesque’s golden age to remind Montrealers of our city’s saucy history.

For more details, visit montrealburlesquefestival.ca.

James guarantees a good time, saying, “It’s impossible not to fall in love with burlesque!”

Car-Free Mile End

Car free conclusion

Montreal’s first ever Car Free Week wraps up on Sunday, Sept 26. The week’s activities included a Monday afternoon flashmob performed at a red light at Parc and Milton’s intersection, and a Wednesday “Die-In” to protest violence against cyclists.

For one grassroots group, it’s the perfect opportunity to wrap up a summer experiment in alternate modes of transport and community living. Car-Free Mile-End has shut down four blocks of St-Viateur, from Jeanne Mance to St-Urbain, one Saturday each month since July, with the last taking place on Sept. 25. In place of cars, the street has been filled with children’s activi ties, local artisans and kiosks of local community groups.

“It was fun just bringing people to the streets,” says organization co-founder Mathieu Vick. “People would meet and talk, instead of just sitting home and watching TV, or taking their cars from one place to another.” Vick says reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, and hopes to repeat the experiment next year. They are going out with a bang. Saturday’s events include local musicians, free yoga and a park(ing) contest. Contestants compete to transform a parking lot into a green space, using real sod. Activities run from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. To learn more, visit carfreemileend.com.

—ELISABETH FAURE

BIXI piece for the Examiner

Mayor Trent in favour of BIXI, but says ‘it’s complicated.’

A remark made by city councillor Helen Fotopulos has touched off a debate about who is responsible for the BIXI bike system spreading west of downtown.

Published on September 20th, 2010

Elisabeth Faure

The City of Westmount and the adjacent borough of CDN/NDG are engaged in a war of finger-pointing over a lack of BIXIs.

Topics :

CDN/NDG , CDN/NDG borough council ,Executive Committee , Westmount , London ,Montreal

A remark made by city councillor Helen Fotopulos has touched off a debate about who is responsible for the BIXI bike system spreading west of downtown.

At a recent CDN/NDG borough council meeting, James MacLean presented a petition with over 1,000 signatures, in favor of bringing the BIXI system to NDG.

Fotopolos caused audience laughter when she asked if the petition's author had plans to re-create his project in Westmount. Fotopolos then claimed that Westmount's lack of a BIXI system was a "stumbling block" for BIXI coming to CDN/NDG, as the system requires docking stations every 300 meters. Therefore, if Westmount doesn't adopt BIXI, NDG faces problems.

Westmount Mayor Peter Trent disagrees. He says he’s in favor of bringing a BIXI system to Westmount, and met with BIXI officials in June to discuss logistics. Mayor Trent says he is still awaiting a quote on how much the plan will cost. As Westmount would be the first de-merged suburb to get BIXI, there are questions about how the system would be paid for.

Trent says that he has not heard an overwhelming demand from Westmounters to get BIXI. "I've gotten three or four emails," he says.

The Westmount Walking and Cycling Association isn’t convinced, “We've been trying since last fall to get the city to act on it (BIXI)," says VP Marilynn Gillies, who says the group has already circulated a petition and raised the issue at council meetings.

Trent disagrees that Westmount presents a stumbling block towards NDG getting the BIXI system. He says Fotopulos should have called him to discuss her concerns directly. "This is what gets people upset, when politicians have spats like this," he says.

Furthermore, he says, "(CDN/NDG) Mayor Applebaum is the Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee! They are the ones who decide who gets BIXI."

Mayor Trent says that, while he is in favor of BIXI, he doesn't want Westmount to get stuck with a hefty price tag, like London. "It's complicated - you can't wave a magic wand and say, 'BIXI comes tomorrow.'"-

"As Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee, my role is to serve the needs of all of Montreal," counters Applebaum. "It's not because I am on the Executive Committee that NDG will receive BIXIs before anybody else." He says he is pro-BIXI, and wants the service to come to his borough.

Applebaum maintains the final decision on BIXI rests with Stationnement Montreal. And while they were the ones to initially say Westmount presented a BIXI problem for his borough, that's no longer the case.

"I've been through this discussion with Stationnement Montreal, and it's no longer a stumbling block," says Applebaum. His borough is exploring ways to bring BIXI bikes in that may not affect Westmount.

Applebaum admits that Westmount does face unique funding challenges when it comes to BIXI. "It's a de-merged residential area, with different rules," he says, and likened the situation to the city of London, which recently bought the BIXI system.

Mayor Trent says that, while he is in favor of BIXI, he doesn't want Westmount to get stuck with a hefty price tag, like London. "It's complicated - you can't wave a magic wand and say, 'BIXI comes tomorrow.'"

Trent says he hasn’t owned a car for decades and would love to see bicycles become the main mode of urban transit. Applebaum says he hears strong demand from NDG residents for BIXI, who appreciate the environmental benefits of cycling. But neither can say for sure when BIXI will arrive.

Conversation may well continue. When asked outside the council meeting if he would indeed take councillor Fotopulos up on her suggestion of a Westmount BIXI petition, James MacLean grinned and chuckled. “That’s certainly an idea,” he said.