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a, Sports

Around the Water Cooler

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In case you were too busy being impeached from your mayoral position, here’s what you missed this past week in the world of sports …

BASKETBALL — Well, Raptor fans, there’s not much to say. Toronto lost four heartbreakers this past week, a trend that has been developing since their 90-88 loss to Indiana in the season opener. First, the Raps blew a fourth quarter lead against Philly on Tuesday. Then, they followed that effort up with two straight one-point losses to Charlotte and Detroit. Finally, they fell in double overtime to San Antonio on Sunday afternoon. One bright spot for the team: Jonas Valanciunas. The big Lithuanian rookie tallied a career-high 22 points on Sunday, and is impressing executives and players around the league.

In NCAA Division III basketball news (no, really), Grinnell Pioneers guard Jack Taylor broke an NCAA record with 138 points in a 179-104 victory over the Faith Baptist Bible College Eagles on Tuesday night. Taylor shot 52 for 108 from the field, but only made 27 of his 71 attempted three-pointers. “I gotta thank the man upstairs. I was able to multiply my talents tonight,” Taylor said after the game. He probably meant multiply by billions. In any case, I’ll have what he’s having.

FORMULA 1 — Sebastian Vettel became the youngest three-time Formula 1 champion, after finishing sixth in the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday. The 25-year-old German becomes the first driver to win three titles in a row since seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher won five straight from 2000-2004. Schumacher is retiring for the second time after returning to race in 2010. He leaves as the most successful Formula 1 driver ever: with the most wins, pole positions, fastest laps, and most podium finishes in the sport’s history.

The 2013 season will kick off in March. We’re sure North American sports fans can’t wait.

FOOTBALL  — The 100th Grey Cup took place this past Sunday night, pleasing Mounties and Canadian football fans around the country. The Toronto Argonauts prevailed over the Calgary Stampeders 35-22 in front of their home crowd at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The title marks their first championship since 2004. Argos’ quarterback Ricky Ray proved his critics wrong with an impressive postseason run, culminating in two touchdown passes in the big game. The Argos defence led the way and stalled Calgary’s offence from the beginning of the contest. Starting running back Chad Kackert was named the Grey Cup’s Most Outstanding Player after he recorded 195 yards of total offence in the victory. Kackert was actually cut by Calgary a couple of years ago, so the performance was in typical revenge fashion.  Rejoice, Toronto sports fans! You finally have something to cheer about! Oh, and Biebs totally killed the halftime show.

a, Sports

Point Counterpoint

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On Nov. 19, the MLB approved a blockbuster 12-player deal between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Miami Marlins. The Blue Jays received an influx of proven, but injury-prone MLB talent, and sent a slew of top prospects to the Marlins. With the trade, many baseball analysts believe the Jays are the favourites to take home the American League (AL) East crown next season. Two contributors weigh in on Toronto’s chances.

Blue Jays will win the AL East

The blockbuster trade between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Miami Marlins has finally been made official. Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, and Emilio Bonifacio will by playing baseball north of the border next summer. The Jays also signed free-agent Melky Cabrera, who hit .346 last year, and was the MVP of the All-Star Game.

According to my fellow contributor, the Jays are acquiring a great deal of risk with this deal. But are they? Johnson is injury prone, but he’s also in the final year of his contract, and should be motivated to put up a huge season. Reyes has been equally fragile, but he’s only two years removed from a batting title and led the National League in plate appearances last season. Cabrera was suspended 50 games for using performance-enhancing drugs, but in his previous drug-free season, he had 201 hits and 44 doubles.

The risk is present, but the upside of this acquisition is unquestioned. Everyone in baseball is talking about the Jays again.

The real story is this: Blue Jays General Manager Alex Anthopolous pulled the trigger on a deal that makes his team instant contenders. Their projected lineup may turn out to be one of the most prolific offences in baseball—the type that can carry a team to a division title, even with an average pitching staff.

Lucky for Jays fans, their hurlers should also be well above average. The top four starters in the rotation will be the aforementioned Johnson and Buehrle, along with Ricky Romero, and Brandon Morrow. Again, there is some risk and injury history here, but the upside is exciting.

One of the biggest questions surrounding the deal is how the new players will adapt to the AL East division—generally known as the toughest in the league. But for the first time in a decade, the division looks vulnerable and the Blue Jays have a chance to seize the opportunity. The Boston Red Sox are rebuilding, the New York Yankees are getting old, and the Baltimore Orioles will regress after their surprising playoff appearance this past season. That means that the Tampa Bay Rays may be Toronto’s toughest competition, and even they are set to lose B.J. Upton while dangling half their pitching rotation as trade bait.

There are many moves still to be made this offseason, and in two weeks, another team in this division could become the instant favourite—especially if the Yankees sign Josh Hamilton. But as we stand today, the Toronto Blue Jays have the most well-rounded roster in the division. Their lineup is deep and powerful, their pitching staff is ripe with potential, and they have one of the best general managers in the league.

Toronto is buzzing about its team and with good reason. The Jays are back, and soon to be AL East champions.

— Trevor Drummond

Blue Jays will not win the AL East

For much of the past decade, the MLB landscape has been dominated by one division—the American League (AL) East. Despite fielding some quality teams that have posted winning records, the Toronto Blue Jays remain the only team from the division not to have made the playoffs in the last 10 years. However, this offseason has the culmination of GM Alex Anthopolous’ plan to launch the Jays to the forefront of the World Series discussion.  Earlier this month, Anthopolous pounced on the Miami Marlins fire sale and completed a mega trade that netted the Jays Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Mark Buerhle, and Emilio Bonifacio. The Jays also signed Melky Cabrera, capping off a string of bold moves that brought an influx of talent to Toronto and excitement to Canada. Although the new-look Jays finally have the talent to reach the top of the AL East, their quest will ultimately be thwarted by one of the division’s powerhouses.

Reyes, the biggest name in the trade, is an injury-prone player. He relies on his speed to turn himself into an excellent hitter and fielder, which will not bode well for the future as he gets older. If Reyes manages to stay healthy, one needs to only look at Carl Crawford—a similarly built player—to envision what kind of regression may lie in Reyes’ future.

Cabrera has spent the majority of his career being a league average hitter and fielder, while exhibiting little power or speed. His two most productive seasons have come under the influence of steroids, eliciting doubts as to whether Cabrera can produce post performance enhancing drug use.

The most consistent of the new additions, Mark Buehrle, should continue pitching at an All-Star level, but is also the oldest at 33 years old.

Finally, recently re-hired manager, John Gibbons, is simply not the right person to lead this roster. Gibbons’ track record inspires little confidence in his abilities as a manager, possessing a lifetime .500 record. Also, his career is littered with controversies surrounding his handling of veteran players. Sound familiar? It’s the same kind of mishandling of veterans that caused former Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine to lose his job after guiding a similarly star-studded squad to a 69-93 finish.

The AL East produced the American League’s wildcard winner, nine out of the past 10 years, and also sent a team to the World Series in five of those years. In essence, what this debate boils down to, is whether or not I have faith in Toronto over the tough field of teams in the AL East. When the Jays’ roster is filled with question marks and the division is as deep as it is talented, I’m inclined to go with the field. Jays’ fans will have to wait for yet another year.

—Mayaz Alam

Winner: Blue Jays will win the AL East

Despite the injury risk of some of the acquisitions, the Jays will take advantage of the weakened AL East to climb to the top of the divison. Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle will immensely improve the team’s rotation, while Jose Reyes will provide the Jays’ with a top-of-the-order stud.

a, Sports

Sports Briefs

by Steven Lampert on

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Basketball — Redmen 69, Concordia 68: Redmen defeat Stingers in dramatic finish, Dufort records 25 pts., 14 reb. in win

The McGill Redmen passed their first true test of the season on Saturday afternoon by defeating the Concordia Stingers 69-68, on the road to improve to 3-0 on the season. Again, Vincent Dufort was huge for the Redmen. He scored a game-high 25 points on 12-18 shooting, and grabbed 14 rebounds in 34 minutes played. McGill built a six point lead heading into halftime, but struggled in the third quarter with too many turnovers. Concordia capitalized and outscored the Redmen 24-11 in the quarter. McGill rallied after being down nine points, with seven minutes left to play to take a four-point lead. Concordia drained a three-pointer with just less than five seconds to go, but it wasn’t enough as the Redmen walked away with the one-point victory. McGill extended its winning streak to 11 games dating back to the preseason, and opens its home schedule against Bishop’s on Nov. 29

Hockey — Martlets 7, Carleton 1: Martlets extend unbeaten streak to 10, Clement-Heydra tallies six points in rout

The No.1-ranked McGill Martlets routed the Carleton Ravens on Saturday night 7-1, to extend their undefeated streak to 10 games. Despite playing without leading scorer Leslie Oles, the rest of the Martlet roster stepped up in a big way. Katia Clement-Heydra scored a hat-trick, and added three assists, while second-year teammate Mélodie Daoust recorded five points, including two goals. With the five-point outburst, Daoust takes over the top of the CIS national scoring lead with 31 points in just 10 games. Although the Martlets weren’t sharp in the first period, they still managed to build a two-goal lead. Carleton opened the second frame with their only tally on the night, but McGill responded with three straight to close the period. Clement-Heydra scored two of her three markers in the third period to seal the game. Martlet goaltender Andrea Weckman was solid in net, stopping 14 of the 15 shots she faced. McGill returns home for a rematch against Carleton at McConnell Arena on Nov. 30.

Basketball — Concordia 72, Martlets 63: Slow start plagues Martlets

A career-high 25 points from first-year guard Marie-Pier Bastrash was not enough, as the McGill Martlets fell to the Concordia Stingers 72-63 on Saturday. Concordia was on fire right out of the gate and built a quick 15-0 lead. The Martlets calmed the pace and ended up narrowing the Stingers’ lead to just three points by the end of the first half. McGill went on a 12-1 scoring run in the last four minutes of the third to take a 52-50 lead heading into the final quarter. However, echoing their poor start, the Martlets came out flat in the fourth and never recovered. Martlet centre Anneth Him-Lazarenko had another solid outing by registering 17 points and collecting eight boards in 32 minutes. The Martlets got virtually nothing from Mariam Sylla and Dianna Ros—the latter coming off an ankle injury. The Martlets will hit the court against Bishop’s for their home opener on Nov. 29.

Plante and Hébert rise for the block against Memorial. (Simon Poitrimolt / McGill Tribune)
a, Sports

Martlets reduce errors, roll against AUS opponents

by Jeff Downey on

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Love Competition Hall was packed with women’s volleyball action all weekend. Starting Friday, McGill hosted the second round of AUS Interlock play, a bi-seasonal tournament which pits RSEQ teams against four of the eight members of the AUS division.

Earlier this season, McGill travelled east to take on the first batch of Atlantic teams, and left with a 3-1 record. The Martlets matched their last result and finished interleague play for the year with a strong 6-2 record.

On Friday night, the Martlets easily handled the Memorial Seahawks. Though under-sized against Quebec teams, McGill switched roles on Friday, using their height advantage to roll over Memorial, 3-0. The first set was competitive, and the Martlets overcame two deficits to take the set 25-22. Third-year captain Geneviève Plante and fifth-year setter Marcela Mansure were instrumental in the match and connected 12 times in the game. The second and third sets were merely filler, as McGill’s cohesive and relaxed play made for an easy victory.

Next up, the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds couldn’t do much to stop the Martlet machine on Saturday afternoon. In a match that took just over an hour to complete, McGill exploited the slower UNB middles, en route to another decisive straight set victory, 25-19, 25-17, and 25-16. Virginie Hébert, a third-year middle, stood out this time around, contributing eight kills, three aces, and three blocks in the effort.

In the evening affair, the Martlets highlighted the offensive prowess of their two starting power hitters. Rookie sensation Catherine Amyot flew to 15 kills on 37 attempts, while Plante added another 14 on her own 37 attempts. They helped pave the way to a four set victory over Cape Breton.

Offence has traditionally come naturally to McGill. What made the difference this weekend was the Martlets’ discipline. While the team committed 18 service errors just a week ago against Laval, the Martlets only gave up 19 total over the first three games of the tournament.

“We were really strong this weekend; we fought way more than we had fought in previous weeks. The difference was that we played together, stopped worrying about the score, and passed and served much better,” Hébert said. “[This had] a huge impact on our offensive and defensive transitions, which gave us much more momentum.”

McGill’s final match took place on Sunday against the Moncton Blue Eagles, and it was the only blemish on an otherwise excellent weekend for the Martlets. Looking slightly overwhelmed by Moncton’s intensity, McGill had no answer to their opponent’s scrappy attitude. Despite strong performances from third-year right side Marie-Christine Lapointe and newcomer Ashley Norfleet, the Martlets lost their only match of the weekend in three sets. Head Coach Rachelle Beliveau, honoured recently for coaching her 900th career match, added her thoughts on the loss, and the weekend as a whole.

“Moncton is a team that fights really, really hard, and does the basics well. At the start, we were doing very well, leading by five or six points. We let it go just a little bit and Moncton will always take advantage of it,” Beliveau said. “It’s disappointing because we wanted to finish on a good note. It’s the last game of the semester and we wanted a good ending … but [overall] the weekend was great, and we played very well.”

McGill heads into the break with a mediocre 7-7 record. Marred by inconsistent play against tough RSEQ competition, the Martlets find themselves last in the league. But, the team has found bright spots in some young players, and still has plenty of games left to right the ship.

“The RSEQ is a strong league … we are competing in the toughest league and gaining maturity,” Beliveau said. “We know what the calibre is now … so we’ll be starting again around Christmas time.”

a, Behind the Bench, Sports

CFL: why don’t we stand on guard for thee?

by Adam Sadinsky on

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I woke up on Saturday, opened my curtains, and noticed a brisk November wind carrying snowflakes through the early morning (maybe afternoon) air. I thought to myself, “it’s about time, this is Canada. Snow in November is normal, expected.” But this November has not been normal; it has not been Canadian. Earlier this month, hundreds of students packed Gert’s to take in the results of the American election. This past weekend, many of my Canadian friends have decided to post on Facebook what they are thankful for, seemingly forgetting that we celebrated Thanksgiving a month ago. Whither my culture, my country?

However, this month’s saddest event occurred on Sunday. For those unaware, or those who don’t watch TSN on the regular, Sunday marked the 100th iteration of the Grey Cup. This trophy, the oldest in North America, is reflective of Canada itself. It represents a league overshadowed by one south of the border, it is played in the harshest of elements, and it is refreshingly unique and misunderstood. Unfortunately, the halftime show duo of Carly Rae Jepsen and Justin Bieber produced more headlines than the champion Toronto Argonauts.

But there is more to the Grey Cup—and to Canada—than an inferiority complex. Sure, the majority of the players in the league are only here because they couldn’t make it in the NFL. Yes, the most famous Grey Cups, the 1950 ‘Mud Bowl,’ the 1962 ‘Fog Bowl,’ and the 1977 ‘Ice Bowl,’ were defined by the weather. But this is a game that is refreshingly humble amidst the uncontrollable commercialization of pro sports. Above all, the league engages communities regardless of their size, and is uniquely ours as a nation.

The average CFL salary is about $85,000; though, it is not uncommon for rookies to earn less than half of that sum. Undoubtedly, this is a generous salary for playing a game, but it dwarfs in comparison to the median NFL salary of $770,000. CFL players play at the second highest level of professional football globally, but they are—as far as professional football players can go—regular guys. Every superstar in the league has some fatal flaw that kept them from ‘making it.’ Despite that fact, for many, the love of the game and a newly adopted country drives them to play football in this strange land. Some, like Toronto Argonauts legend Mike “Pinball” Clemons, now even call Canada their adopted home.

The endearingly local nature of the league also adds to its appeal. Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal might be the ‘sexy’ places to play, but the teams with the greatest followings reside in smaller cities. The Saskatchewan Roughriders represent the Regina metro area of 210,556—marginally bigger than Green Bay, Wisconsin, the NFL’s tiniest outpost. Their fans travel to see the team play its rivals across the prairies, and bring the party to whichever stadium they invade. Moreover, the club is community owned, meaning that fans on its board of directors make the most important decisions. From Calgary to Hamilton, the CFL’s die-hard supporters prove that the game is alive and well, particularly in the smaller locales which they call home.

Finally, this game is ours. It is even more Canadian than hockey. No other country in the world plays football with three downs and awards single points for missing a field goal—how Canadian is that? The NFL is great, its skill is unparalleled, but occasionally we should stop looking south. We should stop being envious at what our neighbours are doing and take pride in what we have created, what generations of Canadians have loved and called their own.

Next year, when the Grey Cup is played on the frozen tundra of Mosaic Stadium in Regina, take part in this Canadian tradition and embrace the game, that is as beautiful as Canada itself. We started doing it 100 years ago; it’s time to re-join the party.

—Adam Sadinsky

http://cdn.sheknows.com/
a, Recipes, Student Life

Chicken Soup Recipe

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Jewish mothers have been telling their kinderlach—children in Yiddish—for centuries, that a bowl of hot chicken soup can cure any ailment, physical or emotional. As flu—and finals—season kicks in, put away the ramen noodles and make yourself a (really) big pot of chicken soup. It freezes extremely well, and it never hurts to have some around when you’re just not feeling yourself.

Ingredients:

16 cups cold water

6 skinless chicken thighs

3 whole onions, peeled

4 carrots, cut in thirds

3 stalks celery, cut in thirds

3 parsnips, cut in thirds

Handful fresh dill

Handful fresh parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

1 cup broad egg noodles

Instructions:

Wash, peel, and cut fresh vegetables. Combine all ingredients in a pot, and bring to boil. Skim the foam from the top, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for three hours. My grandmother would add some matzo balls (or kneidlach) before serving, but some broad egg noodles will do just fine. Add salt and pepper to your liking, and enjoy!

a, Student Life

First stops at McGill: Where to look for the help you need

by Elisa Muyl on

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McGill is infamously large and impersonal, and students must adjust to a certain level of independence. Some students make it through four years without ever going to see their advisor. Although many students may feel that they can do it all themselves, there are a lot of services available at McGill for when you just need a little help. Here are a few first stops, right in time for the Fall final season:

Service Point: 

When in doubt, go to Service Point. Front desk personnel and a series of advisors can handle any administrative task you can throw at them. Whether it’s a new ID card;  documentation, such as proof of enrolment, diplomas; or official transcripts, Service Point should be your first stop. The staff can provide information on tuition and fees, approve late course withdrawals, and point you towards a different advisor if they can’t help you themselves.

Where: Service Point is located on the ground floor of the McClennan Library, now accessible by McTavish or through a hallway beside the language lab in the library.

McGill Student Health Service:

For a drop-in appointment on weekdays, students should line up as early as possible in front of 3511 Peel. Doors open at 8:00 a.m., and appointments fill up quickly. In the afternoon, the staff typically continue to accept appointments, but only to see nurses. The clinic closes at 4:00 p.m., so aim to have your emergencies earlier on in the day, if you can. Bring your student ID and health care or insurance card.

For non-emergencies, call 514-398-6017 on the 15th to book an appointment for the upcoming month. To get help after hours, call Info-Santé at 8-1-1.

Nightline:

McGill Nightline’s phone lines are open from 6:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. every day, and provide free and confidential listening, information, and referrals for students. Volunteers are trained in non-judgmental, active listening. Beyond providing crisis services, the hotline welcomes all kinds of calls, and fields requests for everything from directions to advice on take-out menus and medical referrals.

To reach Nightline, dial (514) 398 MAIN (6246).

McGill Scholarships and Student Aid Office:

The SSAO aims to help all students manage their finances and help fund their education. It provides information for governmental aid on provincial, national, and international levels, and offers financial aid on the bases of both need and merit. It administers McGill’s work-study program and offers information about a wide range of awards, as well as tips for money management, loans, and dealing with financial emergencies.

Visit the SSAO every weekday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Brown Student Services, suite 3200 or call 514-398-6013.

Shag Shop:

The Shag Shop is McGill’s source of information on sexual health issues. It provides inexpensive sexual health resources and contraception, and answers questions in person and online through an anonymous question form, ‘Ask Dr. T’ (http://www.mcgill.ca/studenthealth/ask).

When and where: The Shag Shop is open 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. It is located on the third floor of the Brown Student services building, and is accessible through 3600 McTavish or by 3511 Peel.

McGill Legal Information Clinic:

The (LICM) is a volunteer service run by law students and provides information on most areas of provincial and federal law, excluding criminal and tax law or large construction contracts. Volunteers can only provide general information and cannot give counsel, but they do provide referrals to community or legal organizations. The LICM is a good first stop for students who want to know more about how to handle a possibly delicate legal situation.

LICM is located on the first floor of the SSMU building, and is open 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesdays.

SACOMSS:

The Sexual Assault Centre of McGill Students’ Society (SACOMSS) offers support, advocacy, and outreach for survivors of sexual assault. SACOMSS also runs a help-line, support groups, and a series of training sessions, as well as offers contact information for counselling services and health clinics in Montreal.  It’s non-judgmental and entirely volunteer-run, and is located in the basement of the SSMU building, in room B-27.

To contact SACOMSS, visit their offices, their website (sacomss.org), or dial (514) 398-8500.

Counselling Services and McGill Mental Health:

Technically two separate entities, McGill Counselling and McGill Mental Health both offer support to McGill students. Counselling Services is staffed mostly by counsellors and psychologists, while the Mental Health staff is composed largely of psychiatrists, who typically handle more serious cases and prescribe medication. An Intake Counsellor can direct students who are unsure of what sort of help they need, to the right place.

Intake service is open from noon to 4:00 p.m. in room 4200 of the Brown Building. Counselling Services are open for drop-in weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the same location, and Mental Health reception is open 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., room 5500.

a, Student Life

Mixed Drink Recipes

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The Last Wish

Bacardi 151® is a drink that makes any shooter special and memorable, tequila is what brings out the best and worst in all of us. Throw in Triple Sec® and you have the icing on the cake—to a bartender anyway.

Ingredients:

1/3 oz. Bacardi 151®

1/3 oz. Tequila

1/3 oz. Triple Sec®

Pour each of these into a shot glass in the order above, and enjoy the love/hate relationship that is sure to follow.

Burning Bank

As an avid ‘Coke over Pepsi’ fan, I was always disappointed when my server would bring my mixed drink with the latter whenever I ordered an [insert cheap liquor here] and Coke. So here’s my drop shot to be submerged in one kind of pop, and one kind of pop only. You guessed it: Coke.

Ingredients:

½ oz. Fireball®

½ oz. Goldschläger®

3-4 oz. Coca-Cola®

Pour Fireball and Goldschläger equally into a shot glass—the order does not matter. Drop into a tall, thin glass of enough Coke, so that the shot glass is fully submerged, and presto! A balance of sweet and spicy, and a possible candidate for Coke’s newest ad campaign. Just remember, you heard it here first.

Nilufar serves delicious and inexpensive Middle Eastern food. (yelp.ca)
a, Student Life

Nilufar offers exotic fare on a budget

by Rebecca Babcock on

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Shawarmas and pitas are among  McGill students’ favourite foods. With their special sauces and spices, they make for comforting, savoury, and yummy choices. While it’s not all that hard to find a place that serves Middle Eastern food in Montreal, if you don’t find the right place your experience will be mediocre at best.

We all have our go-to places for the nights when braving the kitchen just doesn’t appeal. These are often near by, but once in a blue moon there is a truly compelling reason to get out of the McGill bubble and head towards Concordia. One such draw is a truly delectable Middle Eastern fast-food restaurant by the name of Nilufar.

A block past the Guy-Concordia Metro Station, this unassuming gem is not very noticeable amongst all the other restaurants one can find on rue Ste. Catherine. The sign is now, after 20 years in business, a faded green and pink banner, and the place looks rather run-of-the-mill. This impression doesn’t last long, once you get inside.

Nilufar is best known for their soup, falafel pita, and drink combo which comes with a big serving of soup, a pita with two medium-sized tomato and lettuce falafel, and a choice of lemonade or peach juice for just under three dollars, tax included.

Over the past few years, I’ve tried my fair share and have become something of a falafel aficionado. I’ve bought falafel balls from Costco, I’ve made them from a pre-made mix bought at my local grocery store, and I’ve had the dish at other restaurants. It’s no exaggeration when I say that Nilufar’s is the best falafel I’ve tasted. It’s crispy on the outside yet moist and flavourful on the inside—the perfect texture.

While the unbelievable price might have you think that you’re in for some questionable ingredients; this is far from the truth. Nilufar’s menu boasts homemade barley, vegetable, lentil, Moroccan, and Tanzanian soups, just to name a few. They don’t have all of these options every day, but you won’t be disappointed with any soup you choose; all are hearty and will more than fill you up. My personal favourites are the Moroccan and the barley, but if you like something a little spicier, the Tanzanian soup is definitely for you.

As a vegetarian, I have only tried Nilufar’s falafel, but the restaurant also offers a multitude of meat dishes. Fear not, meat-lovers, you’ll be just as satisfied with your savoury shawarma as the veggie lovers are with their falafel. You will just have to pay a little bit more. Nilufar also serves Halal food, and is vegan friendly—making it a perfect option for any restaurant-goer.

While Nilufar offers catering—including personalized menus—for private events, most people prefer to dine-in, whether by themselves for some peace and quiet, or in a group to catch-up with friends. An added bonus of dining at Nilufar is the short wait. Food is served in less than eight minutes—or 15 on a particularly busy day.

With its quick service, home-made food, and cheap prices, Nilufar is great for students looking for satisfying, filling, and home-cooked meals on a budget.

Nilufar is located at: 1923 Rue Sainte-Catherine O, Montreal, Quebec

Opening hours are: Mon-Fri: 10:00-21:00, Sat: 11:00-19:00, Sunday: Closed.

Telephone: (514)-846-1947

Vanessa Wattamaniuk U3 Political science (Simon Poitrimolt / McGill Tribune)
a, Student Life, Student of the Week

Student of the Week: Vanessa Wattamaniuk

by Jacqui Galbraith on

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This student of the week was nominated for her work on the executive team of the Women in House program. 

Q: What’s your dream job?

A: I would actually like to be a parliamentarian eventually. Or [something] where I could work to impact policies … but have a chance to travel on the job and really communicate with people—facilitate groups of people.

Q: So some sort of mediation between parliament and the voters themselves?

A: Yeah, I guess that would lead me to lobbyist or something like that. I’m not shutting any doors, but I’d like to be able to create change, and work with people.

Q: What’s your favourite study spot in Montreal?

A: I really like McLennan, there’s this little nook in the back of the first floor that I like to study at.

Q: If you won the lottery, what’s the very first thing you would buy?

A: A trip to somewhere; maybe to visit my sister in South Africa. She’s interning [there] as a photographer.

Q: What’s the last song you remember listening to?

A: I may have watched the Phantom of the Opera last night. So the last song from that.

Q: What’s the first thing you think of when I say ‘Winter break’?

A: Home. I haven’t been home for a year, so I’ve been looking forward to it.

Q: Were you in Montreal last summer?

A: I was just working here and really spending my first summer in Montreal, which I’ve wanted to do for a while. I [worked] at Provigo … but I got a chance to go to the jazz festival and do a little bit of travelling.

Q: What’s next on your travelling bucket list?

A: I’m planning to take a year off of school once I graduate. I would like to work in a different country; I’ve been to Europe a couple of times, but I’ve yet to do a real Euro-trip. I’d also like to go to South Africa to visit my sister.

Q: You were nominated for your work on the exec team for Women in House, can you talk a bit about that program?

A: It’s two days [in Ottawa], Wednesday and Thursday [of last week]. There are three coordinators, and each year it changes, so people who are participants in the program the year before get selected to be coordinators the following year. There’s not really any staff involvement; it is funded by different groups from McGill, but [Women in House] was really completely student run; just the three of us.

Q: So what do the two days entail?

A: The first day you just organize speakers; a lot of prominent parliamentarians. We [had] morning speakers … [like] Nancy Peckford, who’s the director of Equal Voice [an organization dedicated to electing more women to parliament] … and then we [took]a tour of parliament, [attended] question period, and in the afternoon we [heard] MP speakers. This year we had Elizabeth May and Niki Ashton [among others]. In the evening, we [attended] a reception hosted by Senator Fraser just for us. There are several senators and a couple of MPs who come, and it’s a much more casual setting. The second day all of the girls [got] paired up with a member of parliament, and they [got] to shadow them for the whole day.

Q: Are the girls paired up randomly, or do you and the other two coordinators have a say in that?

A: Each of the [applicants] writes quite a bit about themselves, so from that we get a general idea of their interests. From there we try to pair them with the MP that is most appropriate for them.

Q: Are you part of the process for selecting next year’s coordinators?

A: Yes, so [during] second semester we’re going to be getting applications for people who want to be coordinators next year. The three of us will see who works best together as a team, because that’s really important.

Q: How old is this program?

A: This was our 12th anniversary.

Q: Which MP did you shadow last year?

A: I shadowed Kelly Block from the Conservative party. Even though our political ideologies weren’t necessarily aligned, it was really interesting just going to the committee meetings, and hearing people speak about programs I’d actually heard of.

Q: What advice would you offer to other girls interested in this program to get the most out of it?

A: One thing I know I have problems with sometimes is, if they’re MPs, I feel they must be these supernatural beings that are so intelligent; and I’ll find myself hesitant to speak my mind. But just realize that they’re people, and you can just approach them and speak with them. That’s the way you’re going to get the most out of the program, [by] just speaking to them on a person to person level.

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