This week on ‘Focus Montreal’: April 20

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

The program airs on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. as well as Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and midnight.

Take a look at who we’re meeting this week.

8:05 Celebrating Montreal’s culinary excellence

Celebrating Montreal’s culinary excellence

“Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants” recently announced its fifth annual ranking and a quarter of its picks are in Montreal.

Among those honoured is Normand Laprise, best-known for his beloved restaurant Toqué.

Laprise was handed a lifetime achievement award, which is no surprise to those who know him and his food.

READ MORE: These are the best 100 restaurants in Canada right now

Laprise is known for focusing on quality over trends. He’s also the author of the book Toqué! Creators of a new Quebec gastronomy.

The award-winning chef sat down with Global News senior anchor Jamie Orchard earlier this week for a one-on-one chat.

6:17 Montreal students heading to Abu Dhabi for science fair competition

Teens with bright ideas

The 41st Hydro-Québec Super Expo-sciences fair handed out its most prestigious awards this week.

Young scientists from across the province were awarded more than $250,000 in prizes and bursaries for their exceptional projects.

READ MORE: How one teen’s science fair project sparked his drive for immunotherapy cancer research

Among them was Shaan Baig from Dawson College with his project Lighting Up the Brain, and Jordan Levett from Herzliah High School with his work A(eye).

The pair will be representing the province at the international science fair competition being held in Abu Dhabi, UAE in September.

Baig and Levett joined Orchard to discuss their projects and what comes next.

6:45 Author Heather O’Neill promotes literacy

Under the Cover with Heather O’Neill

Literacy Unlimited’s Under the Cover event featuring Montreal author Heather O’Neill was a huge success this week.

The sold-out crowd in Dorval was delighted with stories from O’Neill’s childhood as a precocious reader starting at just age four.

READ MORE: Mini-libraries improving children’s literacy across Montreal

She had everyone laughing when she described her trip to New York City to try to find a publisher for her first novel.

Orchard chatted with O’Neill after the event to find out why she wanted to help Literacy Unlimited and how she enjoyed her evening in Dorval.