On Dec. 29, the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) banned convicted Catholic priest Brian Boucher from several parts of Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (CDN-NDG) and the Town of Mount Royal, after he repeatedly crossed paths with an individual he had sexually assaulted. The individual said that encountering Boucher caused discomfort. They noted that[Read More…]
Author: Julie Raout
Fact or Fiction: Can artificial intelligence use reduce users’ cognitive skills over time?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools now shape how many students tackle tasks such as essay writing, problem-solving, and even brainstorming ideas. Across online platforms, users claim that their reliance on AI has compromised their vocabulary, writing abilities, and creativity, raising concerns about a weakening of cognitive skills overall. However, from a[Read More…]
Students and faculty discuss academic calendar and winter break duration
McGill’s Winter 2026 Semester officially started on Jan. 5, giving McGill students a two-week-long winter break. Compared to other Montreal universities such as Concordia University and Université de Montréal, McGill students receive one week fewer of winter holidays. Other Canadian universities, such as the University of Ottawa, also resume classes[Read More…]
Bird (course) watching
Ancient Reddit thread scrolls whisper the lies of students past: “Math 133 is nothing, easiest class I’ve ever taken,” “Yo, you don’t even have to show up for ‘CATH 325: Mystery and the Imagination.’” You heed their advice, only to be later victimized by the thought that you could pass[Read More…]
Stranger Things: Legendary, or a let down?
Warning: This piece contains spoilers. The widely beloved show Stranger Things released its series finale on New Year’s Eve 2025, concluding almost 10 years of storytelling. It premiered in three parts: The first, the day before American Thanksgiving, the second on Christmas Day, and the third on New Year’s Eve.[Read More…]
Refuting students’ false mathematical arguments with counterexamples
When today’s elementary school students learn about fractions, they are sometimes asked to explain how they reason, for example, that one fraction is greater than another. By constructing their own arguments to explain how they came to a particular mathematical conclusion, they take on more agency in their own learning.[Read More…]
Know Your Athlete: Harry Corkum
The Redbirds Rugby squad is coming off another strong campaign, going 5–1 in the regular season and falling just short against the Université de Montréal Carabins in the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec semi-finals. Their effort was powered by the stellar performances throughout the team, but perhaps most notably[Read More…]
Quebec’s neglect of students with disabilities is undermining education and well-being
Last week, Quebec school administrators informed thousands of students with disabilities that they would be experiencing a ‘break in services’ until Nov. 2026. Those breaks, the result of funding and staffing shortages that made accessibility programming reportedly infeasible, entail reduced schedules, removal from classes, and in some instances, being forced[Read More…]
Igloofest: A first-timer’s guide to Montreal’s most iconic festival
It’s that time of year when Montrealers make their annual pilgrimage to the Old Port. Dressed to the nines in their warmest puffer jackets, snow pants, and hats, these party people are heading to Igloofest, one of the city’s most iconic music festivals. This year, Igloofest runs from Jan. 15[Read More…]
What we liked this break
Warning: This piece contains spoilers. Hamnet – Dylan Hing, Contributor As a self-described theatre-lover, I finally found the time to watch Chloé Zhao’s newest film Hamnet over the winter break, and I think we can all agree that Jessie Buckley is overdue for an Oscar. Based on Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020[Read More…]
