Women on the rise ...literally

An NDG institution is on the move.    
   Black Women on the Rise - now known simply as Women on the Rise - has sat in a building adjacent to and run by the St. Raymond's Catholic Church (in the photo) at 5775 St. James Street West (aka St. Jacques) for a couple of decades at least. 
   The Women on the Rise helped out mothers with young children. 
   The moms would show up and the kids would play around and the parents would network and good helpful information would flow. It's a good thing. 
   But the church that owns the building has told the moms that it plans to use the space for something else. 
   So Women on the Rise is getting the boot. 
   There's some mention that they plan to expand their Alcoholics Anonymous program to become something that will allow the drunks to actually stay at the place. 
   People in the area were not happy about this idea. As the idea of a new Old Brewery Mission in a quiet residential area would not be an easy sell anywhere. 
   Many are watching the situation with eyebrows etched. Women on the Rise will likely relocate to Terrebonne Avenue, so Lower NDG's loss is the Monkland Village's gain.