Derek Cassoff with his daughter, Sarah, who just turned two.

I have to admit that I was surprised when I was first asked to write about my “unique” experiences as a West Island Jew. Considering that I have spent half of my life living in the West Island, my situation has never struck me as being any different from that of Jews who live closer to, say, the Cavendish Mall.

When I moved to Dollard des Ormeaux the first time, I had little say in the matter. It was 1975, and I was only four years old. But my parents, who had grown up “in town,” were drawn to an area that was just beginning to lay the foundations of a strong Jewish community. It had a small synagogue, a Jewish elementary school and a young rabbi who seemed intent on turning this patch of farmland in the middle of nowhere into a Jewish oasis in the suburbs.

Five years ago, my wife, Erika, and I faced a similar decision as we set out to shop for our first home. We looked at several Jewish neighbourhoods, but ultimately settled on Dollard, impressed by what had become of the Jewish community in the 15 years since I had left.

The school and the synagogue had gone through several expansions, and the last of the vacant fields had been replaced by homes, many bearing Mezzuzahs on their doorposts. Perhaps most important, the area was attracting droves of young Jewish families, making it the perfect environment in which to start and raise our own family.

At the same time, we were impressed that the West Island – and even our own street – is made up of people of all cultures, so our daughter is bound to make friends with children with whom she does not share the same background, religion or even skin colour. That can only be a benefit growing up in Montreal in the 21st century.

Sometimes, we do feel a bit isolated from the “organized” Jewish community – the Federation CJA building, the Jewish Public Library and the Snowdon “Y”, but it’s a divide that is easily bridged by a short drive in the car.

And more often than not, we can find everything that we need as young Jewish suburbanites without having to hit the highway.

Federation CJA is a registered charitable organization pursuant to the Canadian Income Tax Act - Registration number: 106702251RR0001.
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