This week on ‘Focus Montreal:’ May 20

Focus Montreal introduces Montrealers to people who are shaping our community by bringing their stories into focus.

It airs Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and midnight.

Take a look at who we’re meeting this week on Focus Montreal:

6:24 Focus Montreal: Howie Mandel’s Just for Laughs Festival

Howie Mandel dishes on future of Just for Laughs 

It’s been a big week for Just for Laughs (JFL).

The festival introduced not only its lineup for this year’s edition, but its new owner.

READ MORE: Tiffany Haddish, Kevin Hart among performers at Just for Laughs 2018

Canadian comedian Howie Mandel bought the festival along with a Los Angeles-based talent agency.

The Montreal festival was put up for sale after allegations of sexual misconduct were levelled against JFL co-founder Gilbert Rozon.

Global’s Gloria Henriquez caught up with Mandel earlier this week to talk about his vision going forward.

7:48 Focus Montreal: Is our city too car centric?

Car-centric urban planning?

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Since the election of Projet Montreal last November, it seems the city has been embroiled in a debate between those who love cars and those who do not.

The controversy over closing Mount Royal to through traffic has solidified the opinion in many circles that Mayor Valérie Plante’s party is anti-car.

READ MORE: Consultations begin on pilot project to close Mount Royal to through traffic

However, an op-ed in the Montreal Gazette this week argued that reducing traffic in the city centre is just good urban planning.

The article suggested Montrealers needed to break their love affair with cars to improve the quality of life for everyone.

Urban planner Jason Prince, who co-wrote the piece, joined senior anchor Jamie Orchard to make his case.

7:42 Focus Montreal: Meet GreatMTLer Lise Watier

Meet Great Montrealer Lise Watier

Global News continues its special series profiling Great Montrealers — people in our community who are making a difference in remarkable ways.

Our great Montrealer this week is Lise Watier — a household name.

For more than four decades, the makeup line bearing her name has been a top-seller around the world.

Watier is also a philanthropist — running a non-profit that helps at-risk women get back on their feet.

There are so many Great Montrealers around us. If you know someone who should be profiled as part of Global News’ Greater Montreal campaign, don’t forget to nominate them!

You can send us a private message on Facebook, tweet at us on Twitter or by e-mail:

WATCH BELOW: Meeting some great Montrealers

6:57 Focus Montreal: Meet GreatMTLer Michael Penner

• Focus Montreal: Meet GreatMTLer Michael Penner
• Focus Montreal: Meet GreatMTLer Nathalie Bondil
• Focus Montreal: Meet GreatMTLer Alvin Powell
• Focus Montreal: Meet #GreatMTLer Kim Thuy
• Focus Montreal: Meet #GreatMTLer Kent Nagano
• Focus Montreal: Meet #GreatMtler Matthew Pearce
• Focus Montreal: Meet #GreatMTLer Judy Martin
• Focus Montreal: Meet #GreatMTLer Claire Webster
• #GreatMTLer: Storyteller Roxann Whitebean
• #GreatMTLer: Kim Reid, founder of On Rock Food Bank
• #GreatMTLer: Judy Kelley
• #GreatMtler: Alexandre Taillefer, the visionary with a strong social conscience

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