Drea Garcia Avila, Creative Director: During my first year of university in November 2021, my friend off-handedly mentioned that The McGill Tribune was looking for illustrators. What started as a creative outlet led to me becoming a Staff Creative for two weeks, Design Editor for the next three semesters, and,[Read More…]
Articles by Monique Kasonga
First Nation children have received a settlement of reckoning, not closure
The federal government’s recent $23 billion CAD settlement with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and plaintiffs in the Moushoom and Trout class actions for First Nations children harmed by Canada’s discriminatory child welfare system marks an important step in acknowledging the deep injustices and violence against Indigenous communities. The[Read More…]
Unearthing Canadian veins of greed
How the country enables the global mining industry’s exploitation of people and the planet On Jan. 13, 2025, Mali took a bold step in reclaiming control over its natural resources, as the government began seizing $245 million CAD worth of gold stocks from Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold. The seizure is part of[Read More…]
Where knowledge becomes community
This Black History Month, Montreal’s public libraries are doing what they do best: Creating space for learning, reflection, and community. Across the city, library programming—from interactive workshops introducing children to important Black historical figures, to film screenings exploring Black art, culture, and politics—highlights the richness of Black history. Standing alongside[Read More…]
Selective apathy is undermining democracy
When the American election results rolled in, McGill’s campus witnessed a surge of political interest—students refreshing electoral maps in library corners, heated debates spilling out of lecture halls, and social media feeds flooded with political commentary. This heightened attention makes sense: not only does McGill host a significant American student[Read More…]
Discussions of campus security and academic freedom dominate McGill Senate meeting
The McGill Senate convened on Nov. 13 to address issues such as the increased police and security presence on campus, the adjusted move-in date for first-year students, and academic freedom. The meeting began with memorial tributes to the late Professor Michael Smith, Professor Emeritus Bohumil Volesky, and Professor James Archibald. [Read More…]
Inaugural Palestinian Film Festival celebrates art, heritage, and hope
“I’m nothing without Palestine. Palestine is my everything, all my values are based on being Palestinian.” These words, spoken by a member who wished to remain anonymous of the Palestinian Cultural Club (PCC) at McGill, resonated deeply across the university’s campus on Friday, Nov. 8. That evening, the PCC hosted[Read More…]
Activism must be shaped beyond spectacle
A few weeks ago, my professor began our history seminar on Black Internationalism by asking if we had ever imagined ourselves or our families enslaved. Given the subject matter of the class, the question wasn’t necessarily surprising, but I found it unnecessary. As upper-year history students, hadn’t we learned that[Read More…]
The stories and sounds of Montreal’s Black women DJs
Montreal’s cultural fabric is shaped by its artists. From writers and sculptors to fashion designers and chefs, there is a scene for everyone. When it comes to musical history, the city’s Black communities hold great significance. The music scene extends to DJing, with events like Igloofest and Aire Commune, along[Read More…]
Canada’s railway system is failing
Last weekend, what was meant to be a three-and-a-half-hour Via Rail trip between Montreal and Quebec City turned into a disastrous 10-hour ordeal. Due to the train breakdown, passengers were stranded mid-tracks with no food, water, or access to a toilet for hours on end. This delay is just one[Read More…]
Quebec needs to rethink its French tuition agreement
Since 2018, an agreement between the governments of France, Belgium, and Quebec has exempted francophone students from France and Belgium from the skyrocketing international tuition fee supplement. Under this collaborative initiative allowing Quebec to maintain the Francophonie, these undergraduate students are subject to the Canadian rate of tuition, while graduate[Read More…]
To Bixi or not to Bixi?
Bixi is my religion – Monique If taking out your first Bixi is an unforgettable experience in itself, riding one also comes with endless benefits. For starters, the convenience is unparalleled. With hundreds of stops all over the city, you can always find a bike and a place to drop[Read More…]
McGill’s evolving faithscape: Exploring religion on campus
At twelve years old, I became acutely aware of how my family’s approach to religion diverged from that of my peers at my Christian school and church. The defining moment was when a Catholic friend visited and remarked on a unique feature in our home: A photo of Jesus facing[Read More…]
A snapshot of the perils of our phone-first recollection era
Photographs serve as timeless reminders of our lives and permanent homes for our precious memories. Without them, recollections fade unnoticed; so we snap pictures through joy and sorrow, to create a visual record of our journey through life. As cameras embedded in our cellphones have become an omnipresent part of[Read More…]
McGill’s joint Senate and BoG meeting sees dialogue on the university’s third century
McGill’s annual joint Senate and Board of Governors (BoG) meeting took place in the Faculty Club on Nov. 14, addressing the theme of “Building on McGill’s Record of Excellence for the Third Century: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead.” Maryse Bertrand, Chair of the BoG, briefly introduced the topic before handing the[Read More…]
Bar des Arts: To drink or not to drink
Have you ever tried describing the appeal of Bar des Arts (BdA) to a non-McGillian, only to be faced with the realization that its allure is absurd? No off-campus bar has BdA’s signature fluorescent lighting. On top of that, Montreal nightlife venues typically have places where you can sit and[Read More…]
Green spaces tend the roots of ecological justice
This summer, I had the privilege of visiting my family in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the first time. We stayed in Kinshasa for the duration of our trip, but part of me wished to see what was beyond the capital city. Deep down, my true desire was[Read More…]
Why Montreal stands out above the rest
As a Torontonian, I, like many, have always recognized Montreal as better than our own city. The ability to legally drink fresh out of high school in such an artsy city was just one of the many reasons McGill was number one on my list. While oftentimes I do yearn[Read More…]
Black history isn’t one uniform experience
As an African student attending McGill, I was initially shocked to see that McGill’s course list included classes with titles such as History of Colonial Africa or African Politics. While I am glad to have the opportunity to take any classes related to Africa, something I was not provided with[Read More…]
McLennan-Redpath closure: Construction or destruction?
Most McGill students spend a large portion of their time in the McLennan-Redpath Complex, taking out books for classes or using it as a study space. Home to the largest library on campus, this space will soon be closing its doors for renovations under the Fiat Lux project. Construction is[Read More…]
The truth behind so-called sustainable vehicles
In December 2022, Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault gave the go-ahead for a new lithium mine in northern Quebec. The James Bay project represents the only lithium mine in North America, and the materials are slated to help meet the surging demand for electric vehicles. Although the shift away from[Read More…]
Canadian mining: Putting a price on Latin American lives
Canada is one of the world’s most prominent players in the mining industry, and its presence has been swiftly growing since the 1990s. Nowhere is Canada’s dominance seen more clearly than in Latin America—where between 50 and 70 per cent of mining activity involves Canadian companies. With its neocolonialist control[Read More…]
A price freeze won’t fix inflation
On Oct. 17, Loblaw Companies Ltd., Canada’s largest grocery retailer that owns and operates Loblaws, No Frills, Provigo, Maxi, Pharmaprix, among others, announced that it would be freezing prices on all its No Name branded products for the next three months. This means that approximately 1,500 No Name grocery items[Read More…]
Ushering in a new future for McGill’s museums
Museums: A quintessential aspect of family vacations, school trips, and artsy dates. For centuries, they have offered visitors the chance to explore conceptual, social, scientific and artistic heritages. But museums hold more weight than most realize; they are inherently political and consistently perpetuate racism. Non-Western cultures are frequently misrepresented in[Read More…]
For a better future, McGill must learn from Black history
Every February, Black History Month comes around with growing support, yet there is still room for growth on behalf of institutions and individuals. Oftentimes, corporations and institutions appear to care about Black history, while truly not doing much good for anyone. These institutions shape Black History Month increasingly around Black[Read More…]
Movember should spotlight BIPOC men’s mental health
The Movember movement’s popularity has risen over the past decade since its founding in 2003. Movember is an annual event where participants grow moustaches during November to raise awareness for men’s health concerns, primarily cancer. Recently, however, they expanded their mission to support men’s—often overlooked—mental health struggles. In Canada, men[Read More…]