By Irwin Block For the Quebec Community Groups Network Activists and supporters of Quebec’s English-speaking community, including politicians from three levels of government, gathered Thursday evening to pay tribute to five people for their extraordinary contributions to improving the lives of community members and the broader society. Clifford Lincoln, Sid Stevens and Earl De La […]
Sid and Earl are now in their 70s and grew up around Montreal’s Clark Street, where Sun Youth Organization works tirelessly to support the neighbourhood. It all started in 1954 when the two friends found a space to rent and started their own newspaper.
It has gone from a small little newspaper into a large conglomerate organization with a $7-million budget, 1500 volunteers and helping thousands of people throughout the year, states Sid Stevens.
“Life in the crowded Plateau Mont-Royal in the post-war years was a time of modest beginnings and big dreams, including those of a young Sidney Stavitsky, aka Sid Stevens, and his friend Earl De La Perralle.”
Sid & Earl’s Sun Youth first started with a local newspaper called the Clark Street Sun, and evolved to become the city’s first food bank in its headquarters in the former Baron Byng High School on St. Urbain. In tribute to their work, Sid and Earl are among the recipients of this year’s Sheila and Victor Goldbloom Distinguished Community Service Award, to be handed out by the Quebec Community Groups Network October 26.
The QCGN is funded by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage.
