Beryl Wajsman

Beryl P. Wajsman is public figure in Montreal. In 2007 he was appointed editor of The Suburban newspaper, which publishes three geographically based editions containing some shared and some location-specific content, to populations in Montreal's West Island, East End and inner suburbs, as well Laval—the adjacent island just north of Montreal, which is Quebec's third-largest city. Total circulation of all three editions is 145,000, making it Quebec's largest weekly newspaper. In 2008, he launched the free, bilingual monthly newspaper "The Metropolitan", serving as its publisher and editor.

Background

Wajsman studied law at McGill University, earning dual B.C.L and LL.B. degrees. Following his graduation, he edited a short-lived Canadian cultural quarterly, Viewpoints.

Starting as an organizer and Liberal executive member under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Wajsman's involvements in the Canadian capital Ottawa have included directing an IRPP study on Access to Justice in Canada; membership in the Canadian Consultative Commission on Multiculturalism; service in the Department of Justice and assistant to a Member of Parliament.

He gained international experience in urban development, social housing and public finance by consulting on important infrastructure projects in the United States, France, and Venezuela.

He has built his Institute for Public Affairs of Montreal.

As an April Fool's joke, Wajsman announced in The Suburban that he would be running for mayor of Montreal. He said he was interested in Montreal’s top job prior to the announcement, and several community leaders as well as his postman people told him they support the move.1

Gomery Inquiry

Wajsman had a small but colorful appearance at the Gomery Commission into the Federal sponsorship scandal in May 2005. He had attacked the Commission in his newspaper columns since late 2004 as being biased, politically motivated and destructive of due process. In April 2005, Mr. Wajsman was accused by Liberal fundraiser Jean Brault of being one of three people at a lunch where Brault allegedly left an envelope stuffed with $5,000 on a chair. Wajsman vigorously denied the implication that he had taken any money and attacked the process for its hypocrisy. At the time of the lunch Wajsman had no ties to the Liberal Party having left a consulting position several months earlier. Wajsman was not charged with anything illegal. Although he was included on a list of people "banned for life" from the Liberal Party of Canada, no such ban appears ever to have been implemented.

Awards, Honors

  • Member, McGill Faculty Club
  • Member, National Press Club of Ottawa
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Award for promoting human dignity, Montreal, Jan.2009
  • Community Service Award from the International Academy of Law and Mental Health
  • Medal of Merit from the Association for the Welfare of the Soldiers of Israel
  • Présidents d'honneur of UNICEF Canada's 50th anniversary celebration