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Arts & Entertainment, Music

The intimacy of Black Country, New Road at Le National

by Annabella Lawlor on

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On Saturday, Sept. 16, Black Country, New Road donned their denim shorts, jackets, and shirts, and played their first ever Montreal show in full Canadian tuxedo. This set of North American shows is the first following the release of their latest record, Live at Bush Hall, which features songs written and sung by individual members of the band—a departure from their previous albums. Each stylistic contribution shines through in the diversity of their voices, challenging traditional ideas of what it means to be a musical outfit. The band has further proven themselves impressive musicians by building complementary soundscapes through atonal improvisations and avante-garde song structures. 

The line to enter Le National wrapped around the venue’s side, anticipation adorning the formation. Once inside, the venue swelled with excitement as the opener, Daneshevskaya, took the stage. Previously the solo project of New York City-based musician Anna Beckerman, she played alongside six others—who toured with her in anticipation of a new album featuring some of their contributions, Long Is The Tunnel. Drummer Joey Mains stated to The Tribune after the show that they had only been playing together since July. Still, the chemistry of their playing was a testament to their skill as a band. The echoing vocal lines and harmonics of the piano and violin moulded perfectly to create an ethereal and multidimensional sound.

Loud cheers erupted through the venue as Black Country, New Road strutted on stage to Van Halen’s “Jump.” Anticipatory silence soon plagued the crowd, then glazed saxophone notes resonated in the air as Tyler Hyde entered, crooning, “Look at what we did together…” When the band’s piano, violin, drums, and guitar entered, energy aggressively dispersed and a chorus of joyful fans chanted their lyrics back at them. There was something unadulterated and about the band’s passion for their musical output that created a chamber of vitality and authenticity in the crowd. 

The set’s most powerful moment occurred during the intimate track “Turbines/Pigs.” It began with pianist May Kershaw wistfully singing to the venue’s sky, feeling nothing but the music beneath her fingertips. The band sat in a circle on the opposite side of the stage, giving space to the sentiments of her musical story, only approaching their instruments as the song’s journey emerged into its climax. The juxtaposition of the performance’s slow, ballad-like commencement against the powerful entrance of building sound only reinforced the emotional repetition of Kershaw’s final lyrics, “Don’t waste your pearls on me, I’m only a pig.” The band highlighted each other’s skills through their playing: Every tonal choice they made uplifted the musical intentions of another. The lyrics’ sincerity and personality tore down any facade of an artistic spectacle. 

“The performance felt very focused on their abilities and playing rather than focusing too much on showmanship. You get a real appreciation for the music and the musicians,” concertgoer Ethan Holm stated in an interview with The Tribune. “It was the same kind of vibe you get when you see a local show or a really small band. Even though this was a fairly popular band’s show, I felt very comfortable.”

With the concert swiftly finished at 22:30, my friend and I found ourselves sitting on the venue’s curb, watching the bands load up their vans and engaging in casual conversations with passersby. About an hour later, still unwilling to cope with the show’s end, we stumbled into a conversation with Black Country, New Road’s saxophonist, Lewis Evans. In our fragile emotional states, we asked the first question that came to mind: “What’s your favourite ice cream flavor?” Cautioning us with the risk of sounding pretentious, Evans answered “Pistachio”, later adding chocolate to his answer. As the last few members approached their van, we repeated our question from across the street. “Pistachio!” they both yelled. We responded, restating Evans’ similar answer from before, to which Hyde remarked back, “That’s not true, it’s chocolate.”

Black Country, New Road perfectly taps into the intimacy they have as friends to produce something so personal and authentic to their musical background. It’s incredibly special for a band, high on the pedestal of a stage, to perforate the emotional depths of the crowd below them. 

Black Country, New Road’s music can be found on all music platforms

Research Briefs, Science & Technology

Analysis finds COVID-19 has now infected three-quarters of Canadians

by Avery Neulander on

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Although the Omicron COVID-19 variant emerged in November 2021, scientists are just beginning to trace how the massive surge of infections unfolded by testing blood samples from throughout the pandemic. This is because antibodies against COVID-19 can be detected in blood for months after an infection.

The analysis was led by Bruce Mazer, professor in McGill’s Department of Pediatrics, and David Buckeridge, professor in McGill’s School of Population and Global Health. They explored the evolution of COVID-19 seroprevalence—the number of people with antibodies left over after an infection—between May 2020 and March 2023, using blood samples from a variety of sources, including the Canadian Blood Services and Hema Quebec.

Their main finding was striking. In late 2021, before Omicron was widespread, less than ten per cent of Canadians had been infected with COVID-19. 

“[But in December 2021,] it went crazy,” Mazer said in an interview with The Tribune. “There was this steady increase upwards from the winter of 2021 […] until it peaked around late summer 2022, hitting around 70 per cent.” 

As of March 2023, the most recent month analyzed, this number was 75 per cent.

Differences between age groups were another major trend in their research. Over 80 per cent of people in the 17-to-25 age group, the youngest one included, had been infected, above the national average. For each subsequent age group, infection rates decreased, with the oldest age group, 65 years and older, lingering around 60 per cent.

“We really have a population age breakdown,” Mazer said. 

The study also established that provinces displayed distinct infection patterns. 

“We covered the geographical areas of Canada, showing that [cases in] the Atlantic provinces were […] the lowest among all provinces,” Mazer said. “And then they caught up quickly during Omicron.”

Many of these findings will not be a surprise to anyone who kept track of Canadian case counts during the early years of the pandemic. In fact, one of the most surprising conclusions for Mazer was that preliminary case estimates were relatively accurate. 

“When we started serosurveillance [the testing itself of blood samples], one of the predictions was that there was going to be a lot of under the radar infections […] [but] in the first two years of the pandemic, there was no hidden tip of the iceberg,” Mazer said.

However, seroprevalence offers additional information that positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests alone cannot provide. Since antibodies remain in the blood for months after infection, they can be used to estimate the total number of infections over time. Relying on test data also became impossible later in the pandemic. 

“[Around the time of the Omicron wave], we lost the ability to do PCR […] once provinces decided to stop funding [it].” Mazer said, “Broadly, there was no way to track the numbers at all.” 

This study is therefore the first to accurately measure Canadian infections during the later part of the pandemic.

Despite its advantages, studying seroprevalence still has its challenges. Developing a reliable test for antibodies was the biggest obstacle, as it required researchers to find differences between antibodies against COVID-19, and those from colds and other minor respiratory illnesses caused by other coronaviruses. Constant monitoring is also necessary to ensure the tests can detect antibodies against new variants.

However, the technique still provides a powerful understanding of infection patterns. In addition to evidence of prior infections, the antibody testing also showed that elderly people in long-term care lost their antibodies rapidly after vaccination. 

“We brought that data to the government,” Mazer said.

“We said, if you’re going to roll out boosters, you [need to] roll them out really quickly in long-term care because they’ve already lost their protection […] And the government listened.”

Despite the many applications for the data, the huge number of people who were infected with COVID-19 remains the most significant fact for Mazer. 

“[In the past 100 years,] there’s never been an infection that’s infected 80 per cent of a population in a year,” Mazer said. “This is unprecedented. […] Everybody would say to each other, oh, everybody’s got COVID. Well, we really have the data to prove it.”

Hockey, Sports

First of many to come: PWHL Draft Recap

by Anoushka Oke, Julie Ferreyra on

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On Sept. 18, the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) held its first-ever draft in Toronto. Following 15 rounds and 90 players selected, The Tribune breaks down how the leagues’ original six fared. 

Montréal 

After a successful bout during the free-agency period where they signed Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, and goalkeeper Ann-Renée Desbiens, Montreal capitalized on their opportunity to build out an even stronger roster during the draft. Selecting sixth overall in round one, Montreal took national team defender Erin Ambrose (6) as their first pick. 

Ambrose, who is from Ontario, represented Canada in multiple renditions of the IIHF world championships, and was also rostered in Canada’s gold-medal performance at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, where she played nine games and recorded four goals and five assists. 

Other notable picks for Montreal were McGill hockey alumnus Ann-Sophie Bettez (79), who recorded 46 goals and 44 assists over five seasons with the Martlets before going on to play for the CWHL’s Montreal Stars and then the Canadiennes. With their final pick of the draft, Montreal selected Lina Ljungblom (90) who scored eight goals––the most of any Swede in a single tournament––at the 2023 women’s world championship.   

Minnesota

Winning the lottery, Minnesota had the privilege of the historic first overall pick. The first pick was devoted to 23-year-old Minnesotan centre Taylor Heise (1), previously playing for the U.S. national team. With their second round pick, they drafted WC gold winner goaltender Nicole Hensley (12).

As part of their inaugural squad, Minnesota also selected two-time Isobel Cup champion Amanda Leveille (61) alongside one of the latest Isobel Cup champions Michela Cava (72). 

Toronto 

After signing Olympic-gold winner Sarah Nurse to their team during free agency, Toronto took defender Jocelyne Larocque (2), a 35 year old shut down defender with their first pick. With Olympic winner Renata Fast, who the team signed during free agency, as her likely defensive partner, Toronto will have one of the best defensive pairings in the league. Toronto also drafted forward Emma Maltais (11), who played on the Canada national team alongside two-time Olympic gold-medalist Natalie Spooner (23) who the team took in the fourth round. 

Other notable picks for Toronto were Jesse Compher (26) who won a silver medal with the U.S. Olympic Team at the 2022 Olympics and Brittany Howard (47) who led the PHF’s Toronto Six in scoring last season. 

Boston 

After capturing future hall of famer Hilary Knight and two-time Olympic gold-medalist Megan Keller in free agency, Boston looked to build on an already strong roster. With the third overall pick, Boston added phenom centre Alina Müller who was a top 10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award all five seasons with Northwestern and became the youngest ice hockey player to win an Olympic medal, scoring the winning goal in the bronze medal game for Switzerland in the 2014 Winter Olympics. 

Boston also selected Sophie Jaques (10), one of the best offensive defenders in the game and Loren Gabel (22) who has one of the most deceptive shots in women’s hockey.

New York

With their first-round pick, New York selected former Clarkson University captain Ella Shelton (4). Martlet alumni Jade Downie-Landry (52), who previously played for the PHF’s Montreal Force was drafted in the ninth round.

New York built up the rest of their roster with strong picks including Cornell alumnus and national team member Jaime Bourbonnais (9). They also selected two goaltenders with ties to  Boston: Corinne Schroeder (33), formerly of the Boston Pride, and Boston College alumnus Abbey Levy (64).

Ottawa

With the signing of forwards Brianne Jenner and Emily Clark in free-agency, Ottawa looked to fill out their defence drafting one of the best two-way defenders Savannah Harmon (5). Their second round pick was devoted to Olympic gold-winner Ashton Bell (8).  

With their remaining picks, Ottawa also selected two-time World Champion Hayley Scamurra (29), alongside recent Isobel Cup champion Daryl Watts (32) and Olympic silver-medalist Jincy Dunne-Roese (17) to strengthen their defence.

Research Briefs, Science & Technology

“Seeing” viruses in real time

by Atticus O’Rourke Rusin on

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During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2022, when thousands of people were getting sick every day, healthcare professionals were worked to the bone. One particularly difficult task in preventing the spread of COVID-19 was contact tracing. In other words, finding out who was sick and how they got sick. 

The challenge in detecting COVID-19, as well as other pathogens, lies in their size. Rapid COVID-19 tests are finicky partly because they require a large quantity of the viral spike protein to detect a positive case. Often, this viral protein may not show up in a large enough quantity until days into an infection. And, of course, we cannot spot viruses with the naked eye due to their incredibly small size—COVID-19 is approximately 100 nanometres in diameter or 0.00014 millimetres. 

However, a new study from McGill’s Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences details new technology that allows for the tracking of airborne viruses, in effect enabling us to ‘see’ viruses. The technology, known as Nano-Digital In-Line Holographic Microscopy (Nano-DIHM), uses artificial intelligence in conjunction with a laser to visualize small particles in real time. 

Although the exact method and machinery underlying Nano-DIHM is under wraps, as the research team waits on patents, Parisa Ariya, professor in McGill’s Department of Chemistry and Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, shared some information in an email to The Tribune.

“Using several optics operations, we broke the diffraction barrier, allowing us not to need to use expensive lasers or do particle trapping,” Ariya wrote. 

The diffraction barrier refers to a microscope’s limit in resolution, or the size at which images begin to blur. By breaking their diffraction barrier, the research team could view smaller particles with greater resolution.

This improved the performance of the microscope, but still did not allow them to get accurate observations on the scale of an individual COVID-19 particle. For this, the team had to upgrade their software as well, prompting them to incorporate machine learning into their method. 

“We developed additional AI codes to enable us to go below 100 [nanometres],” Ariya wrote. 

Since 100 nanometres is the approximate size of a COVID-19 particle, this enhanced resolution allows the visualization of these particles. However, these are not just any photos. According to Ariya, each particle can be observed in four dimensions. 

“We see viruses four-dimensionally, i.e., follow the 3-dimensional (length, width, height) virus changes as a function of time (i.e., 4-dimensionality),” Ariya wrote in an email to The Tribune. 

With polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, there is a turnaround time of multiple days. Rapid COVID-19 tests take only 15 minutes, but their efficacy is questionable. In contrast, this technology can identify and track dangerous pathogens, including COVID-19, in a matter of seconds. Although not yet in use, healthcare facilities and other high-risk areas could inexpensively implement a small, camera-like application of this technology to detect infected individuals. 

While still in the early stages of development, the team’s techniques have potential for diseases beyond COVID-19. They could track a number of different viruses, bacteria, and other forms of microorganisms, which according to Ariya will be of critical need in the near future. 

“The World Health Organization has warned that other pandemics will come, regrettably. This technology can serve rapid detection and forecasting to save lives.”

Behind the Bench, Sports

More than gold: The psychological impact of winning a UFC championship belt

by Desmond Reed, Luke Pindera on

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In one of the most remarkable upsets in the promotion’s history, Sean Strickland, a controversial figure in mixed martial arts, shocked the world on Sept. 9 by beating Israel Adesanya, arguably the face of the promotion, to capture the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight title. The looks of astonishment from Adesanya, UFC CEO Dana White, and even Strickland himself were a reminder to fans of the life-changing implications of winning a UFC belt.

During Strickland’s post-fight press conference, there was a stark change in the fighter’s speech—he had never seemed so present, comfortable, and introspective as he did with the belt in his possession. Despite this, Strickland’s frequent offensive remarks directed towards Adesanya and previous UFC opponents cannot be ignored. Winning the belt neither redeems his racist past nor romanticizes his neo-Nazi youth. The belt’s significance lies in how it bestows responsibility on the fighter.

This fascinating change in Strickland’s demeanor following his victory exemplifies the mystique of the UFC belt. In his post-fight interview, it became clear that the impacts of this accomplishment are far beyond the belt and the sport itself: The value lies in what it teaches someone about themself.

Strickland is certainly not the only example of the phenomenon. Throughout the promotion’s 20-year history, UFC fans have seen time and time again how winning the belt can have a transformative impact on a fighter’s mindset, behaviour, and fighting skills. 

On Aug. 20, 2022, UFC welterweight Leon Edwards snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when he knocked out champion and consensus best fighter in the world, Kamaru Usman. After being dominated for four rounds, Edwards executed a picture-perfect head kick to stun Usman—and the world.

Due to Usman’s dominant title reign of six straight championship wins and impressive performance prior to the knockout, the UFC immediately booked the rematch. Many fans counted Edwards out once again because Usman had outclassed him for the majority of the first fight. However, the rematch was a stark contrast from their previous bout; Edwards looked like a different fighter and was in control from the first bell. Ultimately, he won by majority decision. He fought the same opponent as he did six months prior, with the only difference being that he was now entering the fight as a UFC champion.

A similar revelation occurred with former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, who captured gold due to his opponent Petr Yan’s disqualification. Sterling appeared to many fans as an illegitimate champion, as he appeared en route to a lopsided defeat until the controversial disqualification. Few gave Sterling a chance in the rematch with Yan, and yet, he emerged victorious. Sterling then continued to defeat the division’s top contenders, as his initially questionable title reign transformed into one of dominance, once again displaying the belt’s transformative impact.

The belt carries a supernatural property that elevates a fighter’s game. By taking a closer look, the triumph of winning the belt seems to spur a considerable psychological shift in a fighter’s mind. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a sport that always focuses on a fighter’s next challenge. Even after an impressive win, there’s always the question of whether they can beat the next opponent. The pressure and expectations on fighters are relentless, until one wins the belt.

This is what makes winning the UFC belt one of the most unique and transformative achievements in modern American sport. The belt is the stamp of approval, giving a fighter a sense of self-assurance that permeates throughout their entire aura. This accomplishment allows a fighter to shed the perpetual question of “am I good enough?”, which prompts them to sit back, take a breath, and reflect in an unparalleled way. The cathartic experience of becoming a champion is a life-changing juncture. No matter the result of future fights, that moment will forever be embedded in one’s essence. Once a champ, always a champ.

Student Life

No, you can’t hit my vape

by Sophia Micomonaco on

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As of Oct. 31, Quebec will ban non-tobacco-flavoured vapes and set a new maximum nicotine concentration of 20 milligrams per millilitre for those that remain. Health Minister Christian Dubé, who first set out to amend vaping regulations in April, says this is meant to prevent the negative effects of vaping on minors, given that the number of high school students who vape has quintupled between 2013 and 2019. The amendment to the Tobacco Control Act brings with it many questions: Will our Halloween parties be ruined by nicotine addicts suffering from withdrawal? And what does this mean for the well-being and social life of McGill students? 

It seems that most, whether they vape or not, do not know about the ban. Lashyn Ahmad, U1 Management, does not vape but was unaware of the new regulations until she was interviewed about it. 

“I didn’t know about the bill, but I am in favour of it,” Ahmad said. “The flavours are something that made [vapes] much too marketable to adolescents.”

Oscar Johnson, U2 Arts, pointed out that the reason why so many minors vape as their introduction to nicotine is due to the appealing flavours, which can entice teens to think of vapes as a treat and mask how unhealthy it truly is. 

“Flavoured vapes pander to minors with most flavours being really sweet and fruity,” Johnson said. “There’s bubblegum, mango—they all sound like candy flavours.”

Ava McKenzie, U1 Arts, also hadn’t heard of the bill but is similarly in favour.

“Vapes only really exist to get a new generation hooked on nicotine, and it’s worked spectacularly,” McKenzie said. “I think it’s a good thing to decrease their availability because being addicted to something full of chemicals doesn’t positively affect anyone.” 

Ahmad believes that the ban will impact student life at McGill because, in her words, “people are very deeply addicted to vaping.”

Johnson, on the other hand, feels that this will not affect McGill students because those who really want to continue vaping will find a way. 

“Even if they are banned in Quebec, Ontario is only a two-hour drive away,” Johnson said. “People can just buy vapes there or order them online if they want them badly enough.” 

The ban raises the question: If people are so addicted now, will there be pushback or protest? Ahmad doesn’t think so, arguing that those affected are mostly under the voting age. Johnson thinks that pushback would prove the government’s point—that vaping has become too much of a crutch for teens. However, Johnson predicts vape-selling business owners may react differently.

“[People will] either push back or find a loophole of some sort to stay in business,” Johnson said.

Another question to consider is if vapers will turn into cigarette smokers in order to satisfy their nicotine addiction.

“Going cold turkey is possible but nicotine is so hard to quit,” McKenzie said. “Cigarettes are also already prevalent in Quebec so it would be an easy transition.” 

Ahmad, however, does not think so because of how the public views cigarettes after decades of anti-smoking campaigns. 

“Cigarettes are still unappealing to the general population,” Ahmad told The Tribune. 

Despite the years of anti-cigarette campaigns, however, smoking is back in fashion amongst youth due to the increasing amount of cigarette use in the media, particularly by “it girls” such as Lily-Rose Depp. Depp exemplifies the aesthetic that so many young girls want to emulate—cool, European, and nonchalantly beautiful. Studies have concluded that young people exposed to smoking cigarettes via entertainment, such as Depp’s performance as Jocelyn in HBO’s The Idol, are three times more likely to take it up. So will teens give up nicotine altogether after the new regulations come into effect? Or will cigarettes become the new, cooler vape? Only time will tell.

McGill, Montreal, News

22nd annual Pow Wow celebrates Indigeneity and community

by Josie Hodgson on

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On Sept. 22, members of the McGill community gathered on the Lower West Field to celebrate First Nations, Inuit, and Métis cultures at the 22nd annual Pow Wow. The five-hour event, hosted by First Peoples’ House and the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, was started in 2001 and became the centre of McGill’s Indigenous Awareness Weeks after the weeks’ creation in 2011. 

With a backdrop of blue skies and sunshine, the event began with the Grand Entry, which saw participants enter the tent while dancing to the beat of the RedTail Spirit Singers’ singing and drumming, followed by the pinning up of flags. A moment of silence took place after the introductory dancing for a member of the Kahnawà:ke community who passed away last weekend. This was followed by Intertribal dances, including the male Warrior Dance and female Butterfly Dance, also to the RedTail Spirit Singers’ music. The event also saw throat singing, a hoop dance demonstration, and speeches on the resilience of Indigenous peoples against Canadian settler colonialism.

Education and the involvement of young people, including McGill students and youth from around Quebec, played a significant role throughout the day. Younger children and toddlers, particularly from the Rising Sun daycare—the only Indigenous daycare in Montreal—were encouraged to dance alongside the Indigenous peoples.

Speakers emphasized that the Pow Wow was about socializing and joy. In an interview with The Tribune, JJ McKenzie, a member of the Métis Nation and one of the two dancers in the Orange Blossom Special dance, explained how the Pow Wow encourages a more positive and empowering representation of Indigenous peoples, in comparison to primarily-disheartening news coverage.

“A lot of the time in news and media, you only hear the sad bits about our communities, such as residential schools,” McKenzie said. “This is the fun part that we like to share […] for all of the Indigenous people here. It builds up our community, and then for everyone else who’s not Indigenous, it showcases our fun and cool parts of our culture.”

Outside the main tent which hosted the scheduled events of the day, the Pow Wow also accommodated a number of Indigenous organizations and companies, many of which displayed their jewellery, beauty products, decorations, and artwork. 

Matsheshu Créations, run by Raphaëlle Langevin of the Innu Nation from Mashteuiatsh, hosted a booth at the event, selling jewellery and clothing. In an interview with The Tribune, Langevin explained that it was her first time in Montreal.

“Not everyone wants to travel all the way to meet [my company], so it’s a way to come and meet people,” Langevin said. “I’m happy that people can leave with a part of our culture […] we have a beautiful culture, a really rich history. We are still here, and we are still strong.”

JC Bear, Nêhiyaw (Cree) and owner of Tansi Maskwa, echoed this sentiment, describing how the Pow Wow allows for socializing with other Indigenous communities.

“It’s very personal [….] It’s a way of reconnecting with my community,” Bear said. 

Leah Louttit-Bunker, U2 Arts and co-chair of the Indigenous Students Alliance (ISA), told The Tribune, that the Pow Wow was an enriching experience for all of the ISA, and commended the groups that hosted the event.

“It was heartwarming to see everyone gather together to celebrate Indigenous cultures. The annual [Pow Wow] is always the highlight of our year and we really appreciate the work that the First Peoples’ House and the Office of Indigenous Initiatives put into organizing it,” Louttit-Bunker said. 

McKenzie suggested that people looking to become more involved in honouring and learning about Indigenous communities should attend more local events outside of the university setting.

“See if there’s any events going on nearby that other people are invited to,” McKenzie said. “If you come and ask people questions, they will be happy to answer them and showcase our culture.” 

The next event affiliated with First Peoples’ House will be taking place on Oct. 16, where Alanis Obomsawin, an acclaimed Abenaki filmmaker, will deliver the 69th Beatty Lecture.

Science & Technology

McGill iGEM takes on innovative synthetic biology research

by Ali Baghirov on

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Many undergraduate students desire to delve into research at McGill in labs led by primary investigators and professors. Undergraduates themselves, however, have equally promising initiatives to lead exciting investigations. One of these student groups, McGill iGEM, is an undergraduate synthetic biology research team that has made impressive progress in recent years. 

In an interview with The Tribune, Jonas Lehar, U2 Science and lead of iGEM’s wet lab— the group that performs hands-on lab procedures—discussed the club’s projects and gave insights into the club’s mission. 

“The way I like to describe [iGEM] to people is [that] it’s a science fair for big kids,” Lehar shared. “We come up with a project over the course of the school year, and we spend the summer doing the research in the lab. Then we present our research at the International iGEM conference in November [in Paris].”

This year, the team will be presenting its cancer therapeutics project. As Lehar explained, many existing cancer drugs target mutated proteins that cause the cancer to grow and spread. Such a treatment, however, also targets healthy cells, which causes the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

“We decided to try a [different] approach to cancer: Instead of trying to target the mutated proteins, we could target the DNA directly,” Lehar explained. “What fundamentally [causes] cancer are mutations in the DNA, so instead of targeting the proteins we could target cancer at the genomic level directly. This way would avoid targeting any healthy tissue.”

The team targeted messenger RNA (mRNA)—a complementary copy of DNA that is used to synthesize proteins. The team introduced several new elements into their test cells: Cas7-11 protein, guide RNA, CSX29 protease, and a fusion protein. This is an application of the new generation genome-editing technology known as CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats).  

Cas7-11 protein works in tandem with guide RNA—a type of RNA sequence that recognizes cancer-causing mutations in the mRNA. Once guide RNA finds one of these mutations, Cas7-11 activates CSX29 protease. The protease cuts and thereby activates the fusion protein, which creates pores in the cell membrane and causes cytoplasm leakage. Not only does this kill cancerous cells, but it also stimulates the immune system.

While this is an impressive result, it is important to note that the team’s research is all in vitro—in the tube—and has not been tested in vivo—in animals. 


“We’re not testing [this system] on cancerous mice models because we don’t have funding for it—lab mice are very expensive. It’s also not possible within the year timeframe of the project,” Lehar explained. “However, team members from the previous years often do decide to continue the project that they worked on, so [testing our model in vivo] is definitely something we’re looking at in the future.”

The McGill iGEM will be recruiting new members in Winter 2024 for SynBio collective, STEMcast and InVitro Conference. They are looking for students from a variety of science programs, including Microbiology and Immunology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Neuroscience, Bioengineering, Biochemistry, and Computer Science. This is part of their attempt to expand iGEM into a broader community of students and future researchers.


“In the past, iGEM was a small group of passionate students who wanted to do research. But [now] we’re trying to turn iGEM into something larger, something where we can get more students involved than just the competitive team,” Lehar said. 

Last school year, iGEM also organized synthetic biology workshops to teach students lab techniques and provide them with experience similar to that of a formal McGill lab course. They also ran a workshop for the Shad summer program in Montreal for high school students. 

“The idea of iGEM is that we want to make an opportunity for students to get in [a lab], to take a project and work on it from start all the way until the end. It’s really hard to get that first lab experience that you need to get started somewhere,” Lehar said. “A lot of profs want people who already have prior experience. We want to [be] a stepping stone for people to spark their curiosity in synthetic biology, and also encourage their scientific careers as they go on.”

Science & Technology

McGill students unite with Héma-Québec: From blood donations to saving lives

by Eliza Wang on

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Every 80 seconds, someone in Quebec needs blood. Héma-Québec, which marks its 25th anniversary this month, has been the unwavering supplier of blood products, human tissues, and other crucial donations to Quebec’s healthcare system. Their relentless efforts have long been amplified through partnerships with local communities. One such collaboration was the recent mobile blood drive on campus, open from Sept. 18 to 21, organized between Héma-Québec and the McGill Students’ Blood Donation Association (MSBDA).

“Our club’s goal has been to increase awareness about blood, plasma, and stem cells [in] McGill’s community. We have coordinated a lot with Héma-Québec, since they perform blood and plasma donations in the province, while remaining an independent club accredited by SUS (Science Undergraduate Society) and MSS (Medical Students’ Society),” Oban Lopez-Bassols, U3 Arts, Co-President of the MSBDA, wrote to The Tribune.

“We aim for around four blood drives which we organize in coordination with other school clubs,” Lopez-Bassols wrote. “We’ve found collaboration with faculties and clubs to be an incredibly useful way to get input on good times and places for blood drives, as well as effective promotion of the drives.”

Indeed, awareness of shortages and the urgent need for donations is crucial to sustaining Quebec’s healthcare system. While Héma-Québec is currently capable of fulfilling 100 per cent of the blood donation needs within the province, more has to be done concerning plasma.

“Extreme burn patients, for example, need a lot of plasma, often for weeks on end. So that’s a huge need there,” Lopez-Bassols wrote. “Quebec’s plasma self-sufficiency is around 30 per cent, which leaves our province having to purchase expensive plasma—usually from the United States. We incentivize everyone to donate whatever they feel more comfortable with, but when open, [to try giving] plasma.” 

However, the barriers Quebec’s blood donation service faces do not stop at the plasma shortage. Especially for patients who need frequent blood transfusions, such as those receiving treatment for sickle cell disease or thalassemia, close blood type matches are needed to alleviate potential complications. These matches are best found in donors with similar racial or ethnic backgrounds—thus marking the need for diversity in blood donations.  

Upon further discussion on ethnicity and compatibility, Lopez-Bassols shared an article presented by Canadian Blood Services, underscoring that, “Right now, Canadian Blood Services Stem Cell Registry is not as diverse as Canada’s population. Though there are over 400,000 people registered with Canadian Blood Services Stem Cell Registry, only 33 per cent of potential donors come from Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, Hispanic, mixed-race[,] and diverse Black communities.”

He continued, “It’s especially crucial for stem cells since compatibility in it can be very hard to find. […] For Black History Month, we have [had] heavy promotion of this inequality but we’re still working on messaging and increasing diversity of the registry.”

Yet Héma-Québec and Canadian Blood Services, along with other blood donation organizations worldwide, have not always been a welcoming place. Discriminatory policies, especially those against members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community due to prejudiced fears around HIV/AIDS, have left a lasting impact, and awareness is critical to eradicating such stigma and unfounded regulations.

“The blood ban was very controversial and exclusionary, so it was very hard for us to still promote blood drives while pressuring Héma-Québec to have more open access to donating,” Lopez-Bassols wrote. 

In recent years, Quebec and Canada as a whole have taken strides in dismantling discriminatory bans that previously prevented men who have sex with men from donating blood. Since Dec. 4, 2022, Héma-Québec has transitioned into gender-neutral questionnaires, assessing blood donation eligibility on what it calls ‘[an] individual basis in line with personal behaviours,’ rather than sexual orientation and gender identity. 

And as Héma-Québec celebrates its quarter-of-a-century anniversary, the spotlight is on paving the way towards a more equitable healthcare system here within the province. With each donation of blood, McGill students could save up to three lives—taking part promptly and directly in public health endeavours. 

Montreal, News, Private

Counter-protestors rally against anti-trans demonstrators outside Roddick Gates

by Olivier Croston on

More in Montreal:

Over 400 people congregated in front of the Roddick Gates on Sherbrooke on Sept. 20 to join the Protect our Trans Siblings counter-protest against the 1 Million March 4 Children. There was a heavy police presence on-site to separate the two sides, which later confronted each other in heated exchanges outside the offices of Quebec Premier François Legault, opposite the Roddick Gates. While scuffles did erupt on the outskirts of the protest where the two groups converged, confrontations remained verbal rather than physical, with the police stating that no arrests were made. 

The Protect Our Trans Siblings counter-protest, held at 8 a.m., was part of a national counter-protest movement. Despite the early start, the crowd was full of energy, waving placards and chanting slogans such as “protect trans kids” and “toute le monde déteste les fascistes.”

The 1 Million March 4 Children movement held national demonstrations to protest “gender ideology,” which they allege is being taught in schools across Canada. The movement has gained increased traction in Canadian politics with victories in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan, where Conservatives passed legislation in June of this year requiring students under 16 to get parental consent before their teachers can use their preferred first names.

Celeste Trianon—who led and helped organize the counter-protest—accused the anti-trans group of having the backing of far-right extremists who had supported the Freedom Convoy in Jan. 2022. Trianon also accused the movement of pushing hateful and exclusionary rhetoric which seeks to further silence and oppress 2SLGBTQIA+ people, especially those belonging to the trans community. 

“[They are a movement] which seeks to eliminate education about trans and queer people within school settings,” Trianon said to reporters during the protest. “They are not protecting children; they are actually hurting groups of children and teenagers who are already beyond marginalized.”

Among the counter-protestors was Jamie*, a graduate student at McGill who explained why they felt the need to join the demonstration.

“Because of the rise of right-wing hate,” Jamie said to The Tribune. “I have so many trans and queer friends whose very existence is under threat right now and if we don’t take a stand, who’s next? They are the most marginalized and there is no room for hate.”

Queer McGill, the largest queer student support group at McGill, was instrumental in raising awareness about the counter-protest and providing support to counter-protestors during the event. Queer McGill Administrative Coordinator Abe Berglas, U3 Arts, told The Tribune why the group felt they had to mobilize for the counter-protest.

“Queer McGill was trying to rally the McGill community since it is taking place at the foot of our school,” Berglas said. “From our institutional background we have accumulated a fair following […] we have a thousand people subscribed to our list […] we have also been in contact with SSMU [the Students’ Society of McGill University], to get SSMU itself to release a statement which they did last night […] and I have just been emailing Queer Concordia and a few other groups on campus to connect the far branches.”

When asked how McGill supported their efforts to organize and raise awareness of the counter-protest, Berglas’ answer was resoundingly blunt: “They haven’t.” 

An email was sent from Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Christopher Manfredi 48 hours after the counter-protest had occurred, stating that McGill remains “deeply committed to equity and to supporting all the members of its community, including for 2SLGBTQ+ peoples and communities.”

Trianon vowed to continue fighting to protect trans youth.

“We are fighting for the dignity and safety of trans and queer children, teens everywhere, and that is exactly why we are here protesting today,” Trianon said. “Because we want to send a message that everyone deserves to be safe going to school [….] We want to send a strong message that there is no space for hate across Canada.”

*Jamie’s name has been changed to preserve their confidentiality.

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