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Baseball, Sports

The end of an era: Saying goodbye to David Ortiz

by Jack Peterson on

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On Oct. 10, 2016, David Ortiz played his last Major League Baseball game. For nearly two decades, Big Papi’s charismatic personality, on field success, and philanthropic work were a constant reminder that athletic success and class can work in tandem. 

The greatest designated hitter (DH) of all time, Ortiz retires alongside Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, and Mickey Mantle as one of only four players in Major League history to eclipse 500 home runs and win three World Series. He racked up a World Series MVP, an ALCS MVP, 10 all star appearances, a career .286 batting average, and a .380 on base percentage. His numbers are staggering.

Ortiz redefined the role of the DH. Before him, baseball minds criticized the DH as nothing more than the product of American League backwardness—it undermined the strategic choice of deciding whether to pinch-hit for your pitcher and involved using a player with no defensive abilities. Ortiz helped to bring respectability to the position because––aside from his statistical dominance––Big Papi was clutch. More than any player of his generation, Ortiz changed games, series, and seasons with a single swing. Most notably, he brought an end to the curse of the Bambino.

For 86 seasons, the “Curse of the Bambino,” dating back to 1918 when the Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees, hung like a dark cloud over Boston. While they’d get close, from 1918 to 2004, the Red Sox never won a World Series. This drought was not due to a lack of talent on the team. Red Sox greats Ted Williams, Carlton Fisk, and Carl Yastrzemski all attempted to bring an end to the curse, but were unsuccessful.

Then, in 2004, Ortiz helped bring glory back to Boston and, in doing so, solidified his image as one of the game’s greatest clutch performers. In the 10th inning of game three of the ALDS, he hit a walk-off homerun to win the series and sweep the Los Angeles Angels. Down 3-0 in games to the Yankees in the ALCS, Ortiz hit another walk-off homerun in the 12th inning of game four and a walk-off single in the 14th inning of game five. The Red Sox would go on to become the first MLB team in history to come back from a 3-0 game deficit to win a best of seven series 4-3. They went on to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series to win their first championship since 1918. During the run, Ortiz hit an astounding .409 with five home runs and 23 RBIs. It didn’t take long before Ortiz was back spraying champagne and hoisting the World Series trophy again in 2007 and 2013.

In his final season, Ortiz hit .315 with 38 home runs and 127 RBIs. He had the best final season of all time and will likely become the first ever true DH to be granted entrance to the Hall of Fame, as he played only 277 of his career 2200 games as a first baseman. Filling Ortiz’s larger than life shoes will be impossible because, quite frankly, there will only ever be one David Ortiz. Thanks for the memories, Big Papi—you will surely be missed.

McGill, News

McGill Senior Administrators sit down with student media

by Sara Cullen on

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On Oct. 4, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University Suzanne Fortier, and Deputy Provost (Student Life & Learning) Ollivier Dyens, met with members of the student media for a question and answer session. Topics covered during the roundtable included sustainability at McGill, the implementation of the policy against sexual violence, and the importance of student voices on campus.

In addition, Fortier and Dyens spoke briefly about the future plans for the Royal Victoria Hospital site (RVH). Although the decision to develop the site has not been finalized, Fortier stated that the space would be dedicated to sustainability.

“We haven’t made the decision yet [because] we need to do the feasibility study, but if [RVH] is developed, it will be around the theme of sustainability,” Fortier said. “That’s where we’ll have our school of public policy and great initiatives on sustainability. That, I think, is an important decision for our campus and one that I think is aligned also with what the community sees as important.”

Fortier acknowledged that while the administration may not see eye-to-eye with student activists who are proponents of divestment, McGill is still committed to investments in sustainability.

“We don’t agree on everything, as of course we all know that Divest McGill had a position on divestment,” Fortier said. “They themselves had said that it’s […] a symbolic political gesture. The [McGill Board of Governors]had a different opinion on [divestment]. The Board had an identical view, however, on the urgency and importance of taking actions towards increasing sustainability. There was no dissention on that front and the Board will be exercising stewardship on actions that we will take to decrease our footprint and increase our commitment to sustainability in all we do.”

According to Fortier, disagreement on complex issues such as divestment is to be expected, and even encouraged, on campus.

“I am not expecting, in particular on issues that are complex and issues that are political, that there will be a total [alignment] of views on our campus–in fact I would probably be worried if there were,” Fortier said. “In a democratic society or community, there are differences in opinion, always. What is important for us as an institution is making sure that different opinions are expressed freely, without fear. Also, that different voices are respected and that people are able to hear one another and that as a community we can move forward in a positive and constructive way.”

The administration has been working on the release of the Draft Policy against Sexual Violence in recent weeks. Dyens stated that the university is in the process of hiring another employee to assist Bianca Tétrault, the current Liaison Officer (Harm Reduction) in promoting awareness of sexual assault on campus. Additionally, Dyens discussed plans to create a sexual assault office at 688 Sherbrooke in addition to hiring support staff.

“Will that be enough? You know, I think we’ll see in a year from now,” Dyens said. “We will need a lot of support […] because […] the education, awareness, [and prevention pillar of the policy] is something the whole community has to work on and I think there has been progress in the last few years. Are we where we want to be? No, not until we get rid of [sexual violence] on campus.”

Another plan for the current school year includes a change to mental health services on campus that will better accommodate students in crisis. Dyens stated that a new ‘step-care’ program was launched on Oct. 3 in order to decrease wait times for students.

“Not every student that comes to mental health, counselling, or health services needs to see a psychiatrist right away,” Dyens said. “So [the step-care approach] will be a process where students will be seen very quickly, assessed very quickly, and [delivered] services very quickly [….] The great majority of our students coming into mental health or counselling services just come once […] so for a lot of them we can act very quickly and address the problem [….] And for those who have more fundamental issues, then we will free up time from our psychiatrists who actually deal with these things.”

When asked about plans to better communicate with the student body, Fortier and Dyens stated that communication is a reoccurring problem faced by the administration.

“Communicating with students is never an easy thing to do,” Dyens said. “We are struggling with communication, period—faculty, students, staff, the outside community. We are still using email and I think that’s probably the first issue.”

Dyens explained that he is creating a student advisory group in order to better hear student voices on campus. Applications will be available on the McGill website later in the Fall semester.

“[The advisory group is] really to give us an idea of what is going on […],” Dyens said. “It is complicated [because] students hear voices, they hear bits and pieces, [and] sometimes we don’t tell students the exact [reasoning behind our decisions]. We talk with the Students’ Society of McGill University [(SSMU) and] Post-Graduate Students’ Society [(PGSS) …] but they themselves have issues communicating with the student body. I don’t have a perfect answer —it is a struggle.”

The principal also stated that while she makes an effort to spend time with students, the size of the student body inhibits the amount of conversation that can happen between the student body and the administration.

“Obviously, we have 40,000 students, so nobody can spend the time with each one,” Fortier said. “We try to [hear] what students are saying and to see what you are doing on campus. To [understand] what your life looks like on campus, what are the things you want to see, and so on. It is a large community and that critique [regarding communication] will always be there.”

Hockey, Sports

NHL 2016-17 Season Preview

by Elias Blahaceck, Wasif Husain, Cameron Cash, and Patrick Beacham on

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Pacific Division

 

San Jose Sharks: Coming off an appearance in their first Stanley Cup final last season, the Sharks are poised to stay atop the Pacific division. They have a strong defensive core led by Marc Edouard Vlasic and Brent Burns, with a potent offence led by centreman Joe Thornton and winger Joe Pavelski. Add in their rising star netminder, Martin Jones, and their window to compete for the Cup remains wide open.

Anaheim Ducks: After a poor start last season, the Ducks finished strong, but ultimately came up short in the playoffs. This off-season, they rehired Head Coach Randy Carlyle, who led the team to their only Stanley Cup championship in 2007. Once again, they will rely on the old guard of forwards Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Ryan Kesler. With a very deep defensive corps and strong goaltending from John Gibson, Anaheim will stay competitive in the West.

Los Angeles Kings: The two-time Stanley Cup champions have lost a number of players over the last couple of years. They rely heavily on their core: Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter, Drew Doughty, and goaltender Jonathan Quick. Many of their young players like Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson are yet to have their breakout years. Combined with a lack of depth on defence, this means the Kings will have a hard time competing for the division crown.

Calgary Flames: The Flames had some of the worst goaltending in the league last year and addressed the issue with the acquisition of Brian Elliott. Along with the hiring of Glen Gulutzan as head coach, the Flames hope to improve their puck possession game. They will hope that young stars Johnny Gadreau and Sean Monahan will be able to compete with the L.A. Kings or Anaheim Ducks for a playoff spot.

Arizona Coyotes: The Coyotes are a youthful team looking to build off a tough 2015-16 season. They have a lineup flush with young forwards: Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, Dylan Strome and Christian Dvorak. They have an offensive weapon in Oliver Ekman Larsson on the backend along with new defenceman Alex Goligoski. However, the Coyotes lack experience and proven scoring options. In addition, questions over the play of goalie Mike Smith will fault the Coyotes.

Edmonton Oilers: Led by rising superstar Connor McDavid, the Oilers are finally heading in the right direction. The signing of power forward, Milan Lucic, will add more grit to Edmonton’s top six forward set. They hope that trading proven goal scorer Taylor Hall for top-four defenceman Adam Larsson will stabilize a backend that has struggled for years.

Vancouver Canucks: The Canucks are mired in a transition period where they haven’t fully committed to a rebuild, but still have ambitions of making the playoffs. They will remain competitive with top forwards Daniel and Henrik Sedin, as well as Loui Eriksson, leading the charge. They will look to start to integrate youth into their lineup with players like Ben Hutton, Bo Horvat and Jake Virtanen. However, they still lack secondary scoring and steady goaltending.

 

Metropolitan Division

Washington Capitals: The Capitals will look to build upon their Presidents’ Trophy winning campaign last season with a ‘cup or bust’ mindset. Although the Caps lost dressing room favourite Jason Chimera and two-time Stanley Cup Champion Mike Richards, the addition of Lars Eller solidifies their depth at centre ice. Look for the Capitals to finish first in the Metropolitan Division and challenge for a second-consecutive Presidents’ Trophy en route to a deep playoff run.

Pittsburgh Penguins: As the defending Stanley Cup champions, Pittsburgh has every right to be mentioned as one of the league’s elite. With no major off-season losses, the Penguins will continue to execute a fast-paced tempo under returning Head Coach Mike Sullivan. Pittsburgh will provide the biggest inter-division battle with the Capitals. Expect superstar Sidney Crosby to go head-to-head with the likes of Patrick Kane and Jamie Benn for the Art Ross Trophy, as the league’s leading point scorer.

New York Rangers: Following a disappointing 4-1 series loss at the hands of the Penguins in the 2016 playoffs, the Rangers will enter the 2016-17 season knowing their championship window is closing.  Champion goaltender Henrik Lundqvist is getting older. Although the Rangers will not have the firepower to contend with the Capitals and the Penguins, the addition of sought-after collegiate free agent Jimmy Vesey will add an offensive weapon to New York’s strong blue line. 

New York Islanders: The Islanders will take a step back this season. Newly acquired forward Andrew Ladd will be an offensive downgrade from Kyle Okposo on captain John Tavares’ left side. Ladd, the two-time Stanley Cup champion, will bring leadership and grit to an already heavy-hitting squad; however, the speed of the league, especially in the Metropolitan division, will make it difficult for the Islanders to finish at the top of the standings. 

Philadelphia Flyers: The Flyers will need a bounce back season from winger Jakub Voracek, who saw his 2015-16 season point totals dip down to 55 from 81 the season before. Philadelphia hopes that Shayne Gostisbehere’s rookie season was not be a fluke, and that 2015 seventh overall pick Ivan Provorov will go straight from training camp to the NHL. The Flyers should not be too worried—look for Gostisbehere to continue his torrid pace and for Provorov to make an immediate impact.

New Jersey Devils: For the Devils to make the playoffs, they will need breakout shooters Kyle Palmieri and Adam Hendrique to continue their excellent 2015-16 form, as well as the same stellar play from netminder Cory Schneider. Fortunately for the Devils, General Manager Ray Shero pulled off the deal of the summer when he swapped defenceman Adam Larsson for the dominant top-line speedster Taylor Hall. Look for rookie centreman, Pavel Zacha to make his mark early and often for the Devils.

Carolina Hurricanes: Carolina enters this season as a young, developing team. Their defensive corps are primed for future success with the likes of 2015 fifth-overall pick Noah Hannifin and defensive stalwart Jacob Slavvin. They will require further priming by defenceman Justin Faulk. Elias Lindholm will need to take on a bigger role to support forwards Jordan Staal and Victor Rask down the middle. However, the dark days in Raleigh are not over yet—the rebuild will extend beyond the 2016-17 season.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Although the Blue Jackets drafted QMJHL star Pierre-Luc Dubois, third overall in the 2016 draft, the lineup lacks coherence. In particular, veteran forward David Clarkson is no longer able to keep up with the pace of today’s game. With controversial coach John Tortorella behind the bench there will surely be some fireworks this season in Ohio—and not the good kind. Success is still a distant sight for Columbus.

 

Central Division

Dallas Stars: The Stars will win the central division this year on the backs of forwards Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn, two of the league’s best point producers. However, the question remains if their goaltending will be strong enough for an extended playoff run. Look for a defensive corps, which added Dan Hamhuis over the offseason, to be improved from last year

Chicago Blackhawks: Chicago’s forward group is one of the most dynamic in the league. With Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin leading the charge offensively, and Jonathan Toews continuing to excel as the best two-way centre in the game, the Blackhawks will feast on the league’s weaker squads. Signing wiley veteran Brian Campbell on defence only boosts this squad’s talent and experience. Once again, expect a long playoff run from Chicago.

Nashville Predators: The addition of P.K. Subban over the summer in exchange for Shea Weber will have a positive effect on the Predators’ squad. Now containing one of the most talented defenceman in the league in Roman Josi, look for Nashville’s backend to produce a fair percentage of their offence. Their biggest question mark, as always, will be whether they can get sufficient production from their top forwards. At 33 years-old goalie Pekka Rinne needs a statement season.

St. Louis Blues: Despite the loss of captain David Backes to the Boston Bruins via free agency, the Blues boast a dynamic and experienced forward corps, led by Russian sniper Vladimir Tarasenko. St. Louis’ defence will be a strength, as dynamic sophomore Colton Parayko will look to take another step forward. With goalie Brian Elliot finally out of the picture, the Blues’ net is all Jake Allen’s. The Blues should make the wildcard spot.

Winnipeg Jets: The Jets added potential superstar Patrik Laine with the second overall pick in the 2016 draft. Expect a much improved Winnipeg offense, as both forwards Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers look to take the next step in their development. Two questions remain for the Jets: Can they salvage the Jacob Trouba situation, and can Connor Hellebuyck steal the number one goalie position? Nonetheless, the Jets should be the final wild card team in the West.
Minnesota Wild: The Wild's biggest acquisition this summer was not aging centre Eric Staal, but rather Head Coach Bruce Boudreau. Having won a division title eight out of nine seasons with his previous clubs, expect that percentage to drop this year. The Wild lack the depth and star power to compete in the incredibly tougher central division. If Zach Parise can stay healthy that's a huge bonus, but, even then, it seems very unlikely that the Wild will qualify for the postseason.

Colorado Avalanche: Let by offensively skilled centres Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene, the Avalanche will be an entertaining team to watch—even if they don't win many games. Goaltender Seymon Varlamov has been lights out at times, but he still plays behind a very weak defence. With a new coaching staff behind the bench, Colorado figures to finish in the basement of the central, with the possibility of a roster upheaval coming next offseason.

 

Atlantic Division

Tampa Bay Lightning: Finishing off last year second in their division, the Tampa Bay Lightning surprised hockey pundits  and fans alike. The team that forced the eventual Stanley Cup champions to game 7 in the conference final was able to re-sign this year’s biggest free agent, Steven Stamkos,  and keep their existing core in tact. Expect Steve Yzerman’s boys to make a real push for the Cup this year.

Montreal Canadiens: The Canadians had a horrid second half of their season last year. Carey Price will return to rekindle the fire this season, but the team is banking on big years from Shea Weber, Alexander Radulov, and Andrew Shaw. Keep an eye out for 2016 draft pick Mikhail Sergachev who had a great preseason and will stick with the Habs. Montreal went from a rubber dingy to a class A destroyer overnight; they’ll be playing hockey long into spring.

Florida Panthers: The Panthers finished last season atop the Atlantic division, but lost in the first round. Florida had yet another busy off-season as General Manager Dale Tallon continues to keep his locker room in flux. The team added serious firepower on the back end with Keith Yandle and Jason Demers. Another year under the belt for the Panthers’ youth and added veteran presence on the blue line should guarantee the team finish third in their division.

Detroit Red Wings: Like the Panthers, the Red Wings were knocked out early in the playoffs last season. Detroit had a sombre off-season after losing superstar Pavel Datsyuk to retirement. The additions of veterans Steve Ott and Thomas Vanek might be enough to keep this team in playoff contention should their young core take a step forward in their development. They should be able to fend off other mid-division teams and overtake the Bruins for third place.

Boston Bruins: Last season, the Bruins finished third in the Atlantic, but lost their playoff spot to the Red Wings. Loui Eriksson’s departure leaves a gaping hole in Boston’s top six forwards. Centreman David Backes arrived via free agency, but with aging veteran’s gritty style of play it is unlikely he will return to his former levels of production. Unless Backes can reach the 30 goal plateau, it is unlikely the Bruins will make the postseason.
Buffalo Sabres: Last season, Buffalo was stuck in the bottom of the division and they will most likely be there again. With an elite young core, the Sabres can only get better. The team wasn’t overly active in the offseason and will rely on Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart having breakout seasons. Watch for Kyle Okposo to continue his numbers from New York; however, even with his scoring acumen, Buffalo is far from a playoff spot.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Toronto came last in the league last year, finishing twelve points behind Buffalo. Hockey’s Mecca received a blessing in Auston Matthews. The young centre plays a complete game and will slot into Toronto’s top six on a line with blossoming youngster William Nylander. Fellow first-rounder Mitch Marner will stick with the big club as well. This will be a year of growth for the Leafs, but not enough to come near the postseason.

Ottawa Senators: The Senators offseason has many hockey fans scratching their heads. After, a great draft performance, Ottawa went on to trade upcoming star Mika Zibanejad for 29-year-old local in Derick Brassard. Other a few trades, the team remained idle and seems to be putting all their eggs in Bobby Ryan’s basket. Expect the team to finish last in the Atlantic this season.

 

For more information, check out our podcast with Alex Sirois, Wasif Husain and TSN NHL Insider Bob McKenzie:

https://www.thetribune.ca/sports/mcgill-tribune-sports-podcast-nhl-season-preview-bob-mckenzie-2265234/

Science & Technology

Dr. Jane Goodall discusses her transition from scientist to activist

by Kate Lord & Julia Briand on

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At the Young Women’s Veterinary Association International Conference on Sustainable Veterinary Practice on Oct. 6, the animal calls were so life-like there could have been a chimpanzee in the room.

“This is me, this is Jane, in chimpanzee language,” primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall said.

Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace, is considered to be the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees. Awarded England’s highest honour, Dame of the British Empire, in 2004, Goodall has been the recipient of many prestigious awards over the years for her work on humanitarian and animal rights issues.

“I was born loving animals,” Goodall said. “[As a child] I determined I would grow up, move to Africa, live with wild animals, and write books about them. And everyone laughed at me [.…] The war was raging in Europe, we had very little money […] and I was just a girl, and girls didn’t do that sort of thing.”

In 1960, under the mentorship of famed paleontologist and anthropologist Dr. Louis Leakey, Goodall began her groundbreaking research on the behaviour of the chimpanzees at the Gombe Stream Chimpanzee Reserve in Tanzania.

“Nobody else had ever done anything like that [before],” Goodall said.

Goodall’s observations of the chimpanzees fishing termites out of mounds using sticks and other tools were revolutionary in that it forced a redefinition of the way scientists view animals.

“It was believed that there was a sharp line dividing us humans from the rest of the animal kingdom,” Goodall said. “Today, we know we are part of that animal kingdom, not separated from it.”

Goodall’s close analysis of the emotional relationship between offspring and their mothers, nurturing behaviour in both genders and territorial war between neighbouring chimp populations showed her the similarities between chimpanzee and human nature.

“Chimpanzees have their dark side […] and their loving side, too,” Goodall said.

Goodall eventually attended Cambridge University for her PhD, which she received in 1965. She was dismayed, however, to discover that the academic world rejected the idea of animal sentience. 

“They told me that I had done everything all wrong,” Goodall said. “I shouldn’t have given the chimpanzees names—they should have had numbers.”

It wasn’t until a conference on the study of chimpanzees in 1986 that Goodall was fully exposed to habitat deterioration and inhumane treatment of chimpanzees as a species across the world.

“Chimpanzees were dropping in numbers as a result of the bushmeat trade, commercial hunting, snaring, and the live animal trade,” Goodall said. “I went to that conference as a scientist […] and left as an activist.”

Goodall brought up a few topics relevant to her work as an environmental and animal activist. She described the horrible conditions of industrial farming in wealthy nations paired with the effects of a growing demand for meat.

“About 18 per cent of the greenhouse gases […] responsible for global warming and climate change come from intensive farming,” Goodall explained. “Forests are cut down to house the animals, huge amounts of fossil fuel are used to get the grain to the animals, and the meat to the table, and, of course, a huge amount of water is used to change vegetable protein to animal protein.”

Widespread cow farming and their feces add to the production of methane, which is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

Despite the barrage of modern challenges, Goodall has hope—hope that by better understanding animals, better solutions will be made.

“Animals are indeed sentient,” Goodall said. “Together we can find ways of changing some of these unfortunate cruelties that go on in the world around us.”

Science & Technology

Origins of the Canadian accent: Canadian English and factors that contribute to linguistic change

by Andy Wang on

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Despite many linguistic similarities with our southern neighbour, the Canadian accent—or accents—can be as distinctive as our love of hockey, maple syrup, and good manners.

The origins of Canadian English can be traced back to the American Revolution in the late 18th century when roughly 45,000 Loyalists—American colonists still faithful to the British crown—resettled in modern day Ontario. This influx of native English speakers contributed to the majority of the modern Canadian accent, and explains why a standard Canadian accent is often similar to the English spoken in the midwestern United States.

The influx of Irish and Scottish immigrants to Canada in the late 19th century contributed to some of the regional differences in Canadian accents. English-speakers in the Maritime provinces tend to produce vowel sounds from the front of the mouth when pronouncing words such as car, hard, and bar—think Sean Connery.

English in Quebec, the only province where it is a minority language, also possesses some unique qualities that make it quite distinctive. For example, words with double r’s, such as marry and merry,are typically pronounced differently by Quebec anglophones than in any other region in Canada.

The evolution of language follows similar changes as the forces that shape biological, Darwinian evolution: Isolation, compartmentalization, and time mediate the distinction of language from accents, to dialects, to altogether different languages.

From the early post-American Revolution years until the early 20th century, trans-Atlantic communication required  the labourious exercise of handwriting letters. The rise of the digital era—from cell phones to mass media, Facebook, Instagram, and other forms of online communication—largely began to reverse the trend of English’s linguistic divergence.

“The interconnected nature of reality today can be seen in the homogeneity of the young generation,” Associate Professor of Linguistics Charles Boberg, an expert on Canadian English, said. “Everyone hears the same pop music, and watches the same shows. In the streets of London, you can sometimes hear young people speaking American slang.”

However, not all regional differences are declining. Languages, dialects, and accents provide speakers with an avenue to distinguish themselves from a homogenous blend of linguistic commonality.

“Accents and regional variations in pronunciation and spelling can be used as symbols of individuality and also as an avenue of social movement,” Boberg said. “The regions where we see language at its most malleable is in the middle class, which is logical considering this is the socioeconomic class associated with the most active upward mobility.”

There is also a gender dynamic at play: Women consistently outperform men in all areas of language. Studies have also found a correlation between gender and linguistic change. But, whether these observed correlations are caused by societal roles imposed on women or by the neurobiological differences between the sexes remains a topic of intense debate in sociolinguistic academia.

“The nature versus nurture debate definitely has a place in linguistics,” Boberg said. “Certainly there are factors in society which shape the difference between men and women. For the past century, that has been the chief focus of linguistics. But, recent genetic and prenatal studies have shown that perhaps some things are truly a result of purely biological differences.”

Canadian English has a decidedly unique history compared to its British and American counterparts, despite the fact that the trajectory of its evolution has been shaped by both. With regard to its future, one can only predict that Canadian English will continue to preserve a measure of its uniqueness.

Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Two Lovers and a Bear portrays explosive love affair against icy landscape

by Dylan Adamson on

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Writer-director Kim Nguyen has never been conservative in his creative choices. The Montreal-born, Concordia graduate’s recent films have taken him to shooting locations in Tunisia (La Cité) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (War Witch). Historical drama, horror, and magic realism are just a few of the genres Nguyen has dipped his toes into over the course of his diverse œvre. With his most recent film and fourth full length offering, Two Lovers and a Bear, Nguyen takes his versatile skill set as far north as possible.

The premise is somewhat familiar—two attractive, white heterosexual people fall in love while simultaneously fighting internal demons brought on by dark pasts; however, in the estranged setting, and with the help of some interesting narrative twists, Nguyen draws out new life and beauty in an otherwise traditional plot. The aforementioned heterosexual white couple is the pairing of Roman—an exemplary, volatile performance from Dane DeHaan—and Lucy—Tatiana Maslany of Orphan Black fame. Their mental anguish stems from the persistent memories of abuse at the hands of their fathers. 

The aptly named town of Apex, Nunavut—accessible only via plane—serves as an ideal destination for the two traumatized lovers to escape—as far removed from civilization and memory as possible. As the couple navigates through some seriously frightening screaming matches, Roman’s sporadic alcoholism, and the spectres of—mostly—Lucy’s past, it is made clear that, try as they might, they can never run from their painful memories. 

Nguyen furnishes this complicated romance with grandiose widescreen shots of the aurora borealis. The daunting expanse of the Arctic tundra particularly comes through in the overhead tracking shots of Roman and Lucy on an epic snowmobile journey. One feels the precariousness of life in conditions such as these. Negative forty-degree weather lurks outside every door, and in the background of every scene lies ice as far as the eye can see. The lovers’ explosive relationship is heightened by the innately tense nature of the land.

One particularly notable scene is the close-up of Lucy huddled in a makeshift igloo, breathing in and out rhythmically, intercut with a shot of a rock face surreally pulsing up and down, synchronized with the sound of her breath. The cold becomes a character in moments such as these; its constant threat feels inescapable. 

Shooting mostly outdoors in an expansive, flat landscape, Nguyen uses the relative smallness of the main characters to the advantage of the narrative. As they race further and further from the reaches of civilization, the Arctic feels uncaring, and their neverending quest away from their memories becomes futile. 

While the barren setting does put our characters in a unique position for self-exploration, the film’s representation of this locale is somewhat whitewashed. Despite the couple’s narrative placement within an Inuit community, local indigenous inhabitants of the land are limited to extra roles with little to no contribution to the story arc. The Inuit locals are portrayed merely as part of the landscape, which is disappointing considering that 84 per cent of Nunavut’s population is Inuit. A missed opportunity to bring attention to one of Canada’s most under-represented indigenous groups, Two Lovers and a Bear could certainly have benefited from a more honest and representative portrayal of life in Nunavut. 

Despite the flaws in Kim Nguyen’s Two Lovers and a Bear, the film manages to find beauty in its story of two lost souls searching for meaning at the edge of the world. The methods with which it explores the dark psyches of Roman and Lucy, and how they affect their unique relationship, are often captivating. Although occasionally melodramatic in their turbulent relationship, the couple’s actions never stretch beyond belief due to Nguyen’s thorough exploration of internalized abuse. What really separates Nguyen’s latest from like-minded romances is the way he uses his setting to compound the inner turmoil of his two main characters. While Two Lovers and a Bear unfortunately doesn’t tread much new ground, it’s gorgeous rendering of Nunavut makes this indie romance well worth the price of admission. 

Hockey, Private, Sports

McGill Tribune Sports Podcast: NHL Season Preview with Bob McKenzie

by Alex Sirois and Wasif Husain on

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Alex Sirois and Wasif Husain chat with TSN NHL insider Bob McKenzie to get you set for the upcoming 2016-17 season. They talk about the World Cup of Hockey and it's successes, then dive into the NHL prospect pool and how the Montreal Canadiens will bounce back this year. McKenzie then shares his thoughts on the Vancouver Canucks' upcoming season and on the Coyotes new management and scouting analytics. They discuss which Canadian team McKenzie thinks will finish last, his sleeper teams for this year, and his illustrious musical career at TSN.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/287266215″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”600″ iframe=”true” /]

Montreal, News, Private

11th March for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women draws hundreds

by Astha Agarwal on

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On Oct. 4, hundreds of Montrealers gathered to walk in solidarity at the 11th Annual March for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. The march was hosted by Montreal’s Centre for Gender Advocacy in conjunction with its Missing Justice Collective. A total distance of 1.7 kilometres was covered, starting from  Place Émilie-Gamelin and walking along Rue St-Denis.

The event was held to bring awareness to the Canadian legacy of marginalization and violence towards indigenous women. A 2014 Royal Canadian Mounted Police report found that 1,181 indigenous women had been murdered or were considered missing from 1980 to 2012. The Native Women’s Association of Canada estimated this number to be about 4,000. In response, the Canadian government launched a two-year national inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls on Sept. 1.

Ellen Gabriel, a Mohawk activist and former president of the Quebec Native Women’s Association, expressed doubts over the effectiveness of the inquiry during a speech at the march.

“We need to remember that indigenous women have been asking for education, [and] sensitization at all levels of government, for many years [….]”  Gabriel said. “While the inquiry goes on, colonialism goes on. While colonialism goes on, violence goes on. We cannot wait for any more rhetoric, for any more pain to happen, because in the two years that the inquiry will be organizing itself, we will lose more sisters, we will lose more children to the welfare system.”

Virginia Wabano, a research officer for the Cree Health Board in Northern Quebec, attended the march while she was in the city working to open two womens’ shelters in the James Bay Territory.

“Today, I’m marching because my friend’s mother was murdered in 1991, and her case was reopened today,” Wabano said. “It brings hope. I want to join the many families here to show I’m here to support them as well and that there is still hope.”

Gabriel called for all Canadian politicians and citizens to be educated about violence towards indigenous women. She emphasized, however, that concrete actions will come only if  citizens demand change.

“If Canada is really sincere on reconciliation, then it must act within the school system, within the political system, within institutionalized systems, because the people must change their attitude. It’s not solely up to government,” Gabriel said. “[….You] as the constituents of these politicians that you elect into your parliaments, into your national assemblies […] you must demand the education and demand that the violence stop [….And you] must demand it now.”

According to Nakuset, executive director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, the current focuses of the indigenous women’s movement is on activism to educate and raise awareness, along with applying for funding.

“The inquiry is not going to be over for another two years and nothing is actually going to happen until after then,” Nakuset said. “So we need to, as a community, create solutions [….] Money is something we are working on, but whether we get it or not is a different story.”

Stacey Gomez, action coordinator at the Centre for Gender Advocacy, encourages students to join the Missing Justice collective, which meets once a week to strategize and take meaningful action against violence towards indigenous peoples. In addition to holding teach-ins and participatory exercises for groups to discuss the community’s role in the indigenous movement, the collective has also participated in ground searches for missing women. Gomez stated that new members and input are always welcome at the collective.

“We’re always looking for people to do promotion, help with public education, and bring new ideas forward about how we can amplify the voices and asks of indigenous people,” Gomez said.

Anouska Ralph, a second-year student of First People’s Studies at Concordia who also attended the march, stated that  the role of foreign countries in prolonging violence against Canadian indigenous populations is also not acknowledged in international curriculums.

“I’m an English woman and I moved here two months ago,” Ralph said. “Back home [in England] we are not taught what we did here at all, it’s not in our history lessons. Being the people who did most of the damage, we should learn about this in school and we just don’t, so I feel like I have an obligation to be here and gain as much knowledge as I can.”

U2 Arts student Zoë Poole, who was marching for her second year in a row, felt the march has an important role in educating the public about violence toward indigenous women.

“Both times I found it an emotional yet empowering experience,” Poole said. “It amazes me that indigenous issues in Canada go so unreported that born-and-raised Canadians aren’t even aware of what occurs.”

Out on the Town, Student Life

Bartender Kevin Demers offers high concept cocktails in a relaxed environment at the Cold Room

by April Barrett on

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Down a twisting back alley on the corner of St-Amable and St-Vincent in the Old Port, there is an unmarked door. Above it hangs a blue ‘Sortie’ sign, and, next to it, a little doorbell. This is the entrance to the Cold Room bar, opened Sept. 24. Owner Kevin Demers calls the unmarked bar, “a full fledged speakeasy. You come in by the back, you leave by the front.” 

Demers has tried his hand at many trades, including professional hockey and film production, but he is first and foremost a veteran of the Montreal nightlife scene. Having worked for 12 years as a bartender at staple Montreal bars like Thursday’s, Rouge, Santos, and, most recently, Flyjin, Demers cultivated a deep respect for the art of mixology.

The inspiration behind the Cold Room’s drinks came from 19th century immigrants to Montreal, who pickled fruits and vegetables, and stored them in a basement ‘cold room.’ 

“Back in the 1800s, a lot of bars, before prohibition, were using shrubs, which is vinegar-based syrups, in their drinks,” Demers said. “Those syrups came from the European immigrants who wanted to preserve their fruits and vegetables longer. The vinegar takes out the flavours from the fruit being infused. You can create a super delicious, tart drink, sweetened by the alcohol.”

Demers’ drinks are high concept’cocktails, meaning that they evoke certain sensory memories. 

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“You’re coming for the cocktail experience [at the Cold Room],” Demers said. “You taste the drink and you’re like, ‘Oh my god that reminds of my childhood, or this dinner I once had.’ It’s [a cocktail] that brings you to another world.” 

Demers believes that imagination is one of the most important skills a bartender can possess. In 2015, Demers competed in GQ Magazine’s Most Inspired Bartender Competition in Las Vegas, where he crafted a drink inspired by his grandfather titled, ‘The Classic Gentleman.’ 

“[The Classic Gentleman] tasted like you were having a steak dinner with red wine. You had all the flavours pop in your mouth, in weird levels,” Demers explained. “The drink was based off the only dinner I had with my grandfather. [….] As a kid I just looked at him like, ‘Who is this rockstar?’”

Though removed from the cocktail scene, many see Montreal as a party city. The restaurant-turned-club, known as a ‘supper club, is a hallmark of the city’s nightlife. Spots like SuWu and Flyjin exemplify the supper club model. These venues are restaurants until 10 or 11 p.m., when the tables are pushed to the side, the club music turns on, and the crowd gets rowdy. Demers wanted Cold Room to be a departure from this trend.

“I’m tired of [the supper club scene], not that I don’t like it. But I want to work at a place that […] when you walk in [the Cold Room], you get this next level drink, and it’s like [going out for] dinner,” Demers said. “You’re going to want to spend your night here, it’s relaxed, you can actually talk to everybody.”

While Demers commends Montreal’s popular clubs for the success they’ve had with their model, he wants to offer a secret respite from the known Montreal party scene. 

Upon approaching the door of the Cold Room, the potential customer rings the doorbell, and is either let in, or not. The Cold Room’s entry-screening, combined with the secret address, conveys a certain air of exclusivity. As a brand new bar, Demers has struggled with marketing the unique concept. 

“It’s tough, us being hidden [….] How do you get people in here? How exclusive can you be? Montreal is just not that big,” Demers said. “If you start saying ‘you can’t come in,’ are you still going to have clients coming in?” 

Manager Daniel Boulianne explained that the Cold Room’s concealment will hopefully  grow a customer base that complements the intention of the bar as a relaxed, sit-down enivronment. 

“It’s really about knowing what people want, what they’re searching for [from their night],” Boulianne said. “Are they trying to get shitfaced? It’s all about looking at people at the door and trying to know what they are searching for.” 

As for their intended demographic, Demers and Boulianne are still feeling it out.

The one thing they are certain of is that the Cold Room caters to those who can appreciate the experience of a good cocktail. Boulianne stressed the importance of this experience, as one of the only cocktail bars in Montreal run entirely by bartenders.

“It is really about the craft,” Boulianne said. “It’s not about making money.” 

 

 

A previous version of this piece stated that Daniel Boulianne is co-owner of the Cold Room. In fact, Boulianne is bar manager.

Arts & Entertainment, Music, Private

Modern made vintage: A conversation with Adam Kubota of Postmodern Jukebox

by Demaris Oxman on

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As described in a 2015 interview with the group’s founder Scott Bradlee, the New York-based musical collective Postmodern Jukebox “puts pop music in a time machine.” Led by Scott Bradlee and joined by a host of talented performers, Postmodern Jukebox has gained popularity over the past few years by releasing weekly videos—their most popular has over 22 million views—in which they create vintage renditions of the same tunes heard on the radio. The Tribune sat down with Adam Kubota, longtime bassist with the group and old friend of Bradlee, to talk about the artistic process of turning pop songs into old-school jazz, soul, swing, and more.

Kubota and Bradlee met at the University of Hartford Hartt School, a performing arts conservatory in Connecticut. The pair started off playing at bars and small clubs in the early 2000s. 

“Back then, the gigs weren’t so glamorous,” Kubota said. “Sometimes we got paid in pizza.” 

Later on, Bradlee saw the advent of YouTube as a new medium to bring his ideas into the world, and Postmodern Jukebox was eventually born in 2011.

The gap between a Notorious B.I.G. hip-hop jam and a 1940s jazz number seems like a big leap to make, but for Postmodern Jukebox, that transition comes naturally. 

“We’re all students of jazz, and love all the old music art forms, so it was pretty logical to take that step,” Kubota said. 

The creative process starts with Bradlee’s ability to translate any song into a swing, jazz, or ragtime style. From there, it’s a collaboration with one of the many singers who work with the group—each of whom has a unique vocal approach. Often, Bradlee adds complexity to a simplistic pop song with more intricate harmonies.

 “Sometimes the best ones are the simple ones, and they just sort of write themselves,”  Kubota added. 

The group’s latest release, The Essentials, is comprised of songs considered most essential to the Postmodern Jukebox universe. The collection spans a wide range of songs and styles, from a New Orleans dirge rendition of Radiohead’s “Creep,” to a Motown version of Justin Bieber’s “Sorry.” The love group’s love for their work is clear in every video, as it is in Kubota’s words when he describes the album. 

“Every once in awhile, lightning strikes,” he says in reference to seemingly spontaneous moments of musical coherence. “The right performer, Scott’s arrangement, the right song, we capture the right vibe on the video, something really magical happens.”

The group’s work is inspired by a desire to bring the musical styles they love to a wider audience. Kubota hopes that those who enjoy the work of Postmodern Jukebox will dig deeper and find appreciation for the artists who inspired him, such as Duke Ellington and Miles Davis. 

“It’s getting attention for older, classic art forms, such as jazz, such as doo-wop, Motown, tap dance, swing dancing,” Kubota said. “It’s a hook to get people who just happen to be on YouTube or Facebook checking out videos, to get interested in that.”

Having found his own success through YouTube, Kubota advocates for social media as a means of artistic expression. 

“Give them some sort of visual image of who you are,” he advised student musicians. “It’s important to find your own voice, and to innovate.”

Indeed, Postmodern Jukebox can be considered a great musical innovator of the millennial generation, as they have found a way to pay tribute to the music of yesteryear while making it accessible to a younger crowd. With over two million YouTube subscribers and fans all over the world, it’s clear that their work is resonating with audiences. 

“We’re building audiences for these classic art forms for the future,” Kubota said. “To me, there’s no bigger honour than bringing people to the art forms that I love and enjoy.”

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