Politicians push for Mordecai Richler honour

Two Montreal councillors are lobbying to have a street named after Mordecai Richler, arguably the city's most famous literary export.

Councillors Marvin Rotrand and Michael Applebaumlaunched an online petition this week, asking the city to find a suitable park, street or monument to name in honour of Richler's memory.

"He epitomizes for many Montrealers the experience of successive groups of immigrants, particularly in the Jewish community, but others as well, who came to the city," Rotrand said. "His books bring to life the 1930s, the '40s, the '50s, particularly in the Mile-End area in the Plateau-Mont-Royal."

"For many people, they sense Montreal history in the writing."

The prolific novelist and infamous curmudgeon died in 2001.

The film version of Richler's last novel, Barney's Version, is set to premiere in Montreal Wednesday night at the Imperial Theatre.

Barney's Version was screened at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa Tuesday night, with Richler's widow Florence in attendance.