Latest News

a, Student Life

Uniting the chaos through sustainable changes

by Keara Campos on

More in a:

The McGill Environment Students' Society (MESS) is working to solve the lack of space for Environment students through sustainable initiatives, starting with the new MESS lounge. Upon receiving both basement space and funding from the School of Environment, the MESS council has been working to revamp the two rooms and couches sitting in the school’s building on Rue University. This redesign has catapulted further into different sustainable practices being undertaken within the space, such as a coffee co-op and alternative composting. 

Andi Antal, U3 Environment, commented on the importance of having a space for Environment students.

“We’re always meshed in with Geography students,” Antal said. “Because of that we don’t have our own identity.”

Antal also spoke about the approach to furnishing the rooms that will put sustainable practices into action. Most of the furniture and decor pieces have been bought or found at Value Village, and on Craigslist—even the espresso machine that will be used by the Coffee Collective is a second hand purchase. 

“Everything we need is already made, we don’t want to produce anything more,” Antal said. “If we buy used, we’re contributing to reduction of waste [because] those items [aren’t] ending up in a landfill [and we’re] extending the lifecycle of the material good. Recycling is a mitigator but doesn’t actually address the issue of things being overproduced and in turn things being over consumed.”

Within the student space, MESS is also hoping to put a second initiative into action: The vermicompost. In conjunction with Campus Crops, a student run urban gardening initiative at McGill, the MESS team is hoping to set up the compost, which is a process by which worms are used to recycle organic waste. Eventually MESS is looking to set up a how-to workshop on composting for other students interested in waste reduction—whether that is with their own vermicompost or more simple but different ways to compost while on campus.

Antal is also leading the MESS mural design project, a rolling submission-based contest for a mural that will cover two small walls in the basement area of the lounge. This is a way to engage students more actively with the space, amd assure the space is representative of the environment community. 

“My major role in it is more the artistic stuff,” Antal said. “Having environmentalism and art as two of my major interests, I’m always trying to find ways to merge [them] and have them work together because I think they can [both be] really powerful.”

One of the final, tastier sustainable initiatives being introduced is the Coffee Collective Co-op, an independent student run group that will work to give students a cheaper alternative to specialty coffees on campus. 

Chelsea Kingzett, U2 Environment student and MESS External Representative to the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Council, explained that they will be sourcing from a Montreal company called Union as one way of keeping the co-op locally based. They’re also eliminating the option of the to-go cup in order to encourage students to bring tumblers with them, or stay in the lounge with their coffees in reusable cups. 

“[The] MESS council decided unanimously to share [the] space with the Coffee Co-op,” Kingzett said. “[So] it will be a coffee bar located in […] the MESS lounge. It’s going to be a program run by volunteers […] as a break-even operation. Basically, we’ll charge the amount to source beans for the next batch.”

By reducing coffee waste and using the vermicompost bins, the program will run as a zero waste operation. 

Although the efforts focus on sustainability, Antal and Kingzett both note that the projects ultimate goal will be to unite the school of Environment together as a community.

“Having the environment lounge will give students a space to come together, cross paths, and talk about different stuff they’re doing or even just meet people,” Kingzett said. “People […] want more events and more opportunities to interact with [other] Environment students and we’re hoping this space will facilitate that.” 

a, Opinion

Jaywalking: Another side of street crime in Halifax and Montreal

by David Watson on

More in a:

Halifax is in the grips of a terrible crime wave, or so the Nova Scotia Legislature seems to believe. Last month it voted for a dramatic increase in fines for a certain offence in order to punish Haligonians—yes, that’s really what they’re called—for their criminal ways. But the targets of these stiff new penalties are not who you would expect. They’re not gangsters, drug dealers, or even drunk drivers—they’re jaywalkers.

Thanks to a recent bill passed by the Nova Scotia government, jaywalking could now be punishable by a fine of $697.50, with additional penalties of $1,272 and $2,422 for subsequent offences. The hefty fines are part of the province’s effort to reduce the number of collisions and pedestrian injuries on Halifax roads.

While the bold move has no direct impact on McGillians—except those who may be heading home to Nova Scotia in the summer—the idea that jaywalking fines could be increased to almost $700 in a Canadian city should be terrifying to Montreal residents. If jaywalking is really a crime, then the average Montrealer is on par with Al Capone. But hopefully, if Montreal city officials have even an ounce of common sense, $700 jaywalking tickets will never become a reality in the city.

As critics of the bill have pointed out, the new fines are completely disproportionate to the gravity of the offence, especially in light of the fines levied for other road-related offences. Raising the jaywalking fine to almost $700 makes it higher than fines for much more dangerous conduct, including drunk driving, texting and driving, and driving 30 km/h over the speed limit in a school zone. Jaywalking can be perilous and therefore merits a ticket, but imposing fines bigger than those for much more dangerous offences distorts the incentives for perpetrators.

 

If jaywalking is really a crime, then the average Montrealer is on par with Al Capone.

The bill raises the issue of whether higher fines are an effective deterrent at all. The logic of the province’s Legislature rests on the flimsy assumption that pedestrians are generally aware of how much a jaywalking ticket will cost them, and will adjust their behaviour accordingly. Unless the issue makes headlines, as Nova Scotia’s exorbitant fine has managed to, most pedestrians are likely to be unaware of how much a jaywalking ticket costs. In Montreal, the fine is a modest $15; in Toronto, it can vary from $35 to $90. But unless that information is common knowledge, it’s unlikely to have an effect on pedestrian behaviour in either city.

Such a steep fine will also undoubtedly make the police hesitant to give out tickets, as jaywalking is a petty infraction. In this case, the punishment is disproportionate to the harm of the crime. This would be especially troublesome in Montreal: This city’s cops already wear camouflage pants and decorate their squad cars with more stickers than a first grader’s spelling quiz. Handing out $700 jaywalking tickets is one of the few things that could make people take them even less seriously.

Moreover, deterring jaywalkers can be achieved in much more effective ways. In 2010, when the Toronto Police Service wanted to change pedestrian attitudes toward the offence, they focused on increased enforcement of the existing fine. The police cited enforcement and awareness of existing laws as the keys to deterring dangerous pedestrian practices, and to great effect.

Tighter enforcement of jaywalking laws is a much more effective deterrent than exorbitant fines because it better addresses the philosophy behind jaywalking. What makes jaywalking a daily occurrence around Montreal isn’t the lack of a large fine, it’s the minimal risk of getting caught. Jaywalking is like internet piracy: You don’t download 10 episodes of Game of Thrones because you think the penalty for piracy is too lenient; you do it because you’re confident the Royal Canadian Mounted Police won’t show up at your door to drag you off to wherever Canadian Guantanamo is (Winnipeg?).

Increased road safety is an important goal, and one which will benefit pedestrians and motorists alike. But when cities like Halifax or Montreal attempt to address the issue of jaywalking, they should stick to methods that have proven effective—like increased enforcement—and steer clear of exorbitant fines. Students certainly don’t need $700 jaywalking fines here: After all, if a McGill student really wants to be arbitrarily charged $700, they’re always welcome to buy a Canada Goose jacket, get the latest iPhone, or head down to the bookstore for a textbook or two.

 

 

 

David Watson is a second year political science student and (very) minor league hockey player. He enjoys music, dogs, and eating entire boxes of Kraft Dinner in a single sitting.

 

@McGillTribOp | [email protected]

 

 

 
SSMU Building at McGill
a, News

SSMU considering new provincial student federations, AVEQ and UÉQ

by Sara Cullen on

More in a:

The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) has been involved in the early formation of two new provincial student associations. A formal presentation by each of the organizations, L’Union Étudiante du Quebec (UÉQ) and the Association for the Voice of Education in Quebec (AVEQ), will be given at the Jan. 28 SSMU Council meeting, after which one will be chosen to be presented to the student body and voted on during the regular Winter Referendum period.

There is only one main student federation, the Association pour une Solidarité Syndicale Étudiante (ASSÉ) that exists in Quebec. The Fédération Étudiante Universitaire du Quebec (FÉUQ) fell apart in the spring of 2015. McGill was one of the founding members of the FÉUQ, but has since joined and left three times. As a result, McGill has not been affiliated with a student federation since 2006 and is looking to join either UÉQ or AVEQ. Both federations are relatively new, and SSMU Vice-President (VP) External Emily Boytinck has been involved in their formation. 

“UÉQ has mainly focused this semester on the associations who are affiliating,” Boytinck said. “They ran a couple of affiliation campaigns, some of them passed, some of them didn’t. UÉQ […] wanted to essentially focus more on getting people affiliated first and then [work] towards developing policies whereas AVEQ has taken the opposite approach, so I’ve been really active with AVEQ this semester.”

Problems with the FÉUQ stemmed from the proportional voting system, which allowed for larger organizations to easily dominate the council. Despite SSMU being the fourth largest association in Quebec,  membership was not ideal, according to Boytinck.

“As an anglophone association, you just don’t have nearly as much power within these organizations,” Boytinck said. “[This] is why, when I was helping with the formation [of the other federations], I really pushed for an equalization of power at the congresses among sizes […] so that every association was able to have their voice heard.”

Boytinck noted that the FÉUQ and ASSÉ have different approaches to student representation.

“The ASSÉ is notably the most radical [federation]; it does a lot of grassroots mobilization, and was super active in the 2012 strike,” Boytinck said. “[And] then you have the FÉUQ which was very government-oriented and very focused on the more corporatist channels. Those two are such fundamentally different approaches to advocating on behalf of students that they did conflict a whole lot.”

Boytinck stated that UÉQ and AVEQ are a good middle-ground between the FÉUQ and ASSÉ. 

“[At] SSMU […] we do a lot of mobilization, but we also want something legitimate and representable to the government,” Boytinck said. “[SSMU] was so in between it didn’t make a lot of sense [to join FÉUQ or ASSÉ….] I think it will benefit the whole student movement if there is a good mobilizer—something in between, and something that focuses a lot on the more corporatist lobbying aspect.”

UÉQ and AVEQ differ in their voting schemes, with UÉQ adopting a double-majority system and AVEQ following a one-association-one-vote scheme.

“The UÉQ has pushed for what they call a ‘double majority system,’ so it goes through a semi-proportional vote first and then it goes through a one association, one vote,” Boytinck said. “So it has to go through both to pass. The only problem I saw [with that] is that is still gives big associations the power to combine their voices and act as sort of gatekeepers.”

UÉQ and AVEQ also have different fee levies. UÉQ will cost students $4.50 per student per semester, and AVEQ will cost $3.50 per student per semester.

In order to inform the various student societies at McGill about the two federations prior to the referendum period, Boytinck has presented both the UÉQ and AVEQ at faculty association council meetings across campus.

Arts Senator Erin Sobat explained that Boytinck outlined the importance of affiliating with a provincial student federation at the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) Council last semester.

Sobat additionally noted that affiliating with a provincial federation would have helped SSMU in November when submitting a question regarding international student tuition deregulation to the McGill Senate.

“[McGill is] actually lobbying the government for deregulation and so if we are concerned about our students and how that will impact them, it’s difficult for us to lobby McGill on that,” Sobat said. “Currently we are missing that voice for the provincial government to be able to have an impact or an influence on policy.”

Nicolas Lavallée, secretary-general of the Fédération des Associations Étudiantes du Campus de L’Université de Montréal (FAÉCUM), commented on the organization’s role in creating UÉQ. 

“First of all, we were looking for a credible organization to carry students’ voices to government officials,” Lavallée said. “We were looking for a goal-oriented organization that prioritizes education, research and students’ living standards. UÉQ represents for us an association that advocates with research-based arguments.”

Although Boytinck will continue to work with the UÉQ and AVEQ this semester, SSMU has not financially endorsed or fully committed to either federation as of yet. 

“SSMU notably has not put any money towards either association, which meant that for UÉQ, we didn’t actually have a vote or a seat on the board right away,” Boytinck said. “I’m going […] to one of the first big [UÉQ] meetings in Quebec City this weekend. It’ll be the first time I get an update back, and I think that then […] we’ll get to start working on some policies […] which is good because I do think that SSMU members want to know what we’re affiliating to.”

Last spring, UÉQ hired full-time coordinators for their federation. AVEQ had not hired any full-time staff until recently. 

“AVEQ, just last weekend actually, hired [staff]. They had some money inflowing because they had their first affiliation with the Concordia Student Union,” Boytinck said. 

After hearing from both federations on Jan. 28, SSMU Council will take an informal vote on which federation will be presented to students on the Winter Referendum. The federation may be selected by Feb. 11, and one question will be submitted for approval. 

“[When Council votes on [the federations] they’re going to be voting on whether or not it’s a fair question to pose to students in the referendum—not whether or not we support it as a Council.” Sobat said.

Sobat commented on the likelihood of selecting one federation over the other.

“I would say that given the trends between anglophone and francophone schools, and smaller and larger associations, […]the AVEQ looks more like an association […] that the SSMU would move to join,” Sobat said. “But the first [vote] is the SSMU Council’s, and that’s a unique decision; it’s never really happened that there’s been two [federations] at the same time.”

a, Fact or Fiction, Science & Technology

Is Blue Monday real?

by Stephanie Fehertoi on

More in a:

Aside from being the title of a classic dance hit by New Order, the phrase “Blue Monday” is often used in reference to having feelings of sadness and anxiety upon returning to work in the beginning of the week; however, one specific Monday was singled out in recent years as being the bluest of them all: The third Monday of January.

This day was determined by Cliff Arnall, former part-time psychology lecturer at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom. Arnall’s work was commissioned by a travel agency searching for the most depressing day of the year in order to market vacations. Claiming to be mathematically calculated, his ‘formula’ took into account January’s gloomy weather, the post-holiday slump and its associated financial debt, the stress of the New Year, resolutions, as well as motivation (or lack thereof).

Other companies soon picked up Arnall’s Blue Monday as a depressing truth for PR purposes, but it was eventually met with criticism. Many pointed out that Arnall’s equation is nonsensical with no real scientific basis, and the factors he used to create the formula are ambiguous and unquantifiable. Indeed, Arnall does not even state the units of measurement for his formula.

“I believe strongly that pseudoscience (like this equation) regularly presented as genuine science in the mainstream media harms the public understanding of science and psychology,” wrote Dean Burnett, a professor at Cardiff University, in The Guardian in 2012. 

Burnett further explained that it is impossible for a reliable set of external factors, like those used by Arnall, to influence a population at the same time every year. 

Arnall himself has denounced his whole claim, as Blue Monday picked up attention in Britain, continuing to trend in headlines and social media even today, 10 years after its creation in 2005.

“I’m pleased about the impact if it means people are talking about depression and how they feel, but I’m also encouraging people to refute the whole notion of there being a most depressing day and to use the day as a springboard for the things that really matter in your life,” Arnell said to The Telegraph in 2012.

Despite this, many might agree that January boasts some of the saddest days, especially as temperatures dip and school or work begins again. This might be attributed to cases of Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD). This is a condition in which people’s moods are negatively affected by seasonal patterns, such as shorter and darker days in the winter.

The Canadian Mental Health Association notes that sufferers of SAD might experience fatigue, sadness, apathy, depression, and in extreme cases, suicidal ideation. As much as four per cent of Canadians become clinically depressed in the winter, while 10 to 15 per cent suffer from a milder form of SAD called sub-syndromal SAD. This seasonal mood change occurs because human serotonin levels are influenced by light, as the receptors in human retinas activate pathways responsible for making serotonin.

Lack of sunlight is often associated with the disorder, and light therapy is increasingly being used to combat symptoms. In fact, two public libraries in Winnipeg and one in Edmonton will soon install new sets of sun lamps to help those with SAD. Similarly, Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles includes “Luminothérapie” art installations every winter to brighten public spaces, and the McGill Psychology Students’ Association recently added a ‘happy lamp,’ to their office (located in Stewart Biological Sciences Building, room N7/8). Other methods of prevention include exercise, spending time outdoors or near windows, and seeking counselling.

While it is definitely fiction that some arbitrary date in January is the saddest of the year, many do understandably feel blue during winter months. Especially here in Montreal, it is important to remember to embrace this cold season by enjoying winter activities like ice-skating or skiing, spending cozy nights in with friends and hot drinks, or even by simply admiring the snowfalls that make winter so beautiful.  

a, Out on the Town, Student Life

Kicking back at L’Entrepôt

by Liz Willcock, Hailey MacKinnon, Audrey Carleton, Keara Campos, and Julie Vanderperre on

More in a:

L’Entrepôt is a resto-bar famous for it’s $4.95 per meal menu. This past Sunday, the Student Living team took a fieldtrip to the trendy Mont-Royal neighbourhood to see what all the hype is about. Below are reviews from the section’s editors and contributors about what are must-tries and what can be passed up on. Have a restaurant you want us to review before you commit to it yourself? Email us at [email protected].

Liz Willcock, Staff Writer

When I first walked into L’Entrepôt, everything seemed vaguely familiar, but it wasn’t until I opened their menu that I put two and two together. Anyone who’s ever been to Whistler, British Columbia, will recognize L’Entrepôt as the Montreal equivalent to The Furniture Warehouse (commonly known as Fernies.) This restaurant on Avenue du Mont-Royal Est is almost identical to the time-honoured Whistler establishment, with big wooden tables, leather bar stools, and most importantly, the everything-is-$5 menu. Although I was skeptical the cheap food might mean we would lose out elsewhere, L’Entrepôt still has a cozy ambiance and reasonably large portion sizes. I got the Union Square salad, filled with ramen, avocado, chicken, and lettuce. It had a really tasty ginger soy dressing that made the combination of ramen and salad feel a little less weird for me. Although it was a little on the salty side, my $5.75 bill made me forget all about it.

Hailey MacKinnon, Editor

I’m pretty much always up for fish tacos—anywhere, anytime—so L’Entrepôt was appropriate for my next venture. I was pleasantly surprised with what I was served, especially for the price, as others have mentioned. The dish came with three fish tacos that were nicely battered and filled with corn, tomatoes, peppers, and a lime—all topped with a chipotle and mayo sauce. Though it didn’t live up to the likes of a similar dish (with a similar price) at Montreal’s also famous, L’Gros Luxe, it was still a satisfying meal in a relaxing hangout. Pro-tip: They only accepted cash and Visa, so don’t expect to use your debit card—although for $4.95 plus tax, you could probably pay for your meal with change rescued from under the couch cushions.

Keara Campos, Contributor

L’Entrepôt boasts a laid-back aesthetic with a homey interior and a patio area in the summer. I ordered the “Works Burger” which was a standard burger with cheese, tomato, lettuce, bacon, onions, and mayo. It was definitely good value for the amount, especially since it came with cream of broccoli soup as a side; however, keep in mind that because prices are affordable, the food isn’t necessarily amazing. It was an average burger without any twists, no house sauce or special ingredient—akin to a burger at a family BBQ due to the simplicity—though it would be hard to mess it up. Overall, the meal was less memorable than the conversation that was had. It’s not a place to visit for the food per se, but rather the atmosphere and good pricing.

Audrey Carleton, Staff Writer

L’Entrepôt maintains a casual, social vibe that allows the establishment to straddle the fine line between a bar and a restaurant. I ordered the Quinoa and Apple Salad, consisting of romaine lettuce, quinoa, and slivers of cucumber, avocado, and Granny Smith apple. It was topped with soy-honey-lime dressing, sweet corn salsa, and toasted almonds, and was both large and filling enough to have costed twice the price at any other restaurant. While quinoa is my go-to carb addition to make any salad more filling, I found the sauce saltier than preferable. The corn salsa was a nice addition, but what made the salad was the toasted almonds, which gave it a memorable crunch. Likely due in part to its wallet-friendly prices, the restaurant was nearly full at 2 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon, which calls to question how full it typically is in the evening. To be safe, making a reservation in advance is advisable.

Julie Vanderperre, Managing Editor

Even on a Saturday afternoon in the dead of winter, L’Entrepôt was convivial and crowded with groups of friends gathering together for a weekend meal. The vibe is casual with album covers plastered on the walls and a skater feel. I ordered the roasted turkey sandwich, which came on cranberry sourdough bread, stacked with cheese, lettuce, and dripping with honey mustard. The sandwich was tasty, although it didn’t compete with my Thanksgiving leftover turkey, cranberry, and sweet potato leftover sammies. I ordered it with a side salad, which was a very simple bowl of mixed greens with vinaigrette. While it was nothing to write home about, the meal was satisfying and worth the price, and I would definitely head back with a group of friends again for some beers and burgers on the cheap.

a, Science & Technology

The best scientific publications at McGill

by Daniel Galef on

More in a:

While every newspaper at McGill, including the Daily, the Reporter, and the Tribune, has a Science & Technology section, McGill University is also home to a number of specialized publications that cover all aspects of scientific journalism and inquiry. Many of these, despite fascinating content and a hardworking staff (often volunteers), do not get the readership they deserve. Here is a brief spotlight on three such publications that center on the sciences, but do so in very different ways.

Headway / En Tête

The first resource for research on campus is Headway, an annual magazine simultaneously published in French as En Tête. 

“There is so much extraordinary research happening at McGill,” explained Julie Fortier, the magazine’s editor and associate director of the McGill University Office of Communications and External Relations, the organization which co-publishes Headway. “We want to show how this research is done, why it’s important and the impact it will have—or is already having—here and around the world,” 

Although not a student publication, the magazine highlights activities at McGill and is planning on introducing a brand new feature to offer students a direct voice in communicating their undergraduate research to peers, alumni, and the greater scientific community. This new section is currently looking for interesting submissions in a variety of forms, such as photo slideshows and short videos, as well as more traditional text articles. In fact, the publication is right in the middle of a complete overhaul this spring. 

“Instead of an annual print publication, Headway will become a quarterly electronic newsletter that anyone can subscribe to,” Fortier said.

The new, digital, and highly-accessible format is scheduled to debut this March, and will be housed on the McGill Reporter website. Meanwhile, back issues are readable as PDFs online.

Behind the Roddick Gates, a.k.a. the Redpath Research Journal

The Redpath Museum’s own research journal, Behind the Roddick Gates is one of McGill’s hidden gems, just like dawsonite (a mineral which was discovered on the museum’s construction site in 1874, viewable in the well-appointed second-floor mineralogy exhibit). The journal is focused on science and research, but with a decidedly eccentric twist—in its pages are recorded all manner of McGillian curiosa and esoterica. This includes things like campus legends at risk of dying out of the oral tradition, surprising ways McGill has influenced the world that are not normally brought to light, and the early colonial history of Montreal—but also very serious and illuminating papers on museum exhibits and scientific developments. 

“We don’t really focus on one field in particular,” explained editor Aimy Wang. “You’ll notice that we have an article on an Egyptian pharaoh right next to a paper on Madagascan ammonites.”

With issues produced annually, the journal is the work of the Redpath Museum Society, and accepts submissions from the general student populace, priding its unrestricted authorship guidelines as one of the basis of its extremely diverse content. In this regard, it is a fantastic example of undergraduate periodical production at McGill.

MSURJ

Another such publication is MSURJ, the McGill Science Undergraduate Research Journal, which prints annually and accepts all manner of student papers on subjects ranging from biochemistry to theoretical physics, and everything in between. Just this year, its scope has been expanded to include engineering, and the editors are excited about the journal’s new range. 

“This year, we focused on getting more engineers involved in publishing with us,” said Ariana Aimani, co-editor in chief of the journal, “And we have received a great turnout.”

What’s more, unlike many less formal student publications, MSURJ is run entirely like a professional academic journal. Every issue and every article is peer-reviewed by active researchers in the relevant field. While contributors must be undergraduate university students, the journal frequently receives international submissions, and the actual research is always held to an extremely high standard. 

“Undergraduate students who have completed any form of original research with a professor either for a 396 project, thesis, or summer project, as well as students who have written review papers [can submit to MSURJ],” Aimani said.

MSURJ, which celebrates its 10th year this issue, can be found in print on stands throughout campus, as well as on its digitized archive curated through the website, Issuu.

 

McGill is also home to a plethora of niche publications and departmental undergraduate journals concerning such more specialized fields as linguistics (Cellar Door), mathematics (Delta Epsilon), as well as Ampersand—the journal of the interfaculty Arts & Science program, which explores how the hard sciences can intersect with other fields. 

snow cricket
a, Sports

Snow Cricket World Cup comes to Montreal

by Zikomo Smith on

More in a:

Cricket, the world’s most popular bat and ball game, normally takes place in temperate, sunny climates. The coldest matches are usually found on blustery April mornings in Lancashire, England or in Dunedin, New Zealand—players can be seen wearing two sweaters, and clutching hand warmers in their pockets.

The Snow Cricket World Cup in Montreal, however, is a bit more extreme. A number of players—curious Montrealers and expats from Commonwealth countries, where the sport is primarily played—descend on Parc Jeanne-Mance to take part in the event. The tournament, now in its ninth year, has seen temperatures of -24°C in the past, leading participants to kit themselves up in Canada Goose, North Face, and Timberlands. Founder of the tournament and President of the Pirates of the St.-Lawrence Cricket Club, Angus Bell, got the inspiration for the tournament from his travels.

“The idea for snow cricket came from Estonia, where I was lucky enough to play cricket on ice, inside a former soviet missile factory against [the Estonian cricket team],” Bell explained. “It was part of a massive tour around the former Soviet Bloc and the Warsaw Pact countries at the time, so I was playing in the Croatian islands and the Slovakian mountains and stuff like that. So I thought if the guys can play cricket there, surely we can do it in Montreal.”

Translated from Eastern Europe to Parc Jeanne-Mance, snow cricket is wonderfully bizarre: A wooden platform lying on top of the snow serves as the pitch on which the ball is bounced. There are no boundaries, so the batsmen can smash the ball and run between the wickets as many times as they deem fit. Bowlers and fielders don bulky winter wear. At any moment, a cross country skiier moving through the field could stop play. Running through the snow is notoriously difficult—likened to sand on more than one occasion.

“It just works,” Bell explained. “Obviously when you are dressed up for the ski slopes like a ninja, bowling with frozen tennis balls on wood, it’s slightly ridiculous.”

A social, carnival atmosphere permeated the event. Teams were split into six different regions—England, the Asian bloc, the Celtics, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.  The teams had players of varying levels, and the idea was to give everyone a chance to get involved.

“It’s a fantastic introduction to the game,” Bell said. “It’s winter outside so there is nothing else to do, it’s a lot of fun, the most fun you can have in winter. So people come out, they bring friends. It’s a gateway drug to cricket.”

Teams played to win, but not at the expense of the event’s social side. At lunchtime, everyone stopped to eat pies. During the game there was considerable banter between the players. Everybody was laughing and enjoying the incongruous setting for a cricket tournament.

Australia defeated the Asian bloc in the final—a game that saw big hitting, foolish running, and manic celebrations. Afterwards, in proper cricketing fashion, everyone hit the pub to warm up after the game.

The fun event is part of Bell’s, and the Pirates of the St.-Lawrence Cricket Club’s, vision to introduce cricket to the wider Montreal community.

“[After finding inspiration from Estonia], it became a drive to open cricket to everybody,” Bell explained. “We have had over a thousand players in eight years at the [Pirates of the St Lawrence cricket club]. We have matches all summer against teams from New York, Boston, Toronto[….] Then we have our 10 week cricket program.”

Bell has an inclusive vision for the sport in Montreal.

“Everything we do is open to everybody,” he commented. “We have a lot of beginners, a lot of people who haven’t played since primary school, and [The Pirates of the St.-Lawrence] is one of the [most affordable] sports clubs in Quebec, we have all the equipment so people just need to turn up.”

a, Student Life

Across the world crossword

by Jonathan Motha-Pollock on

More in a:

Across

 

4. Theron’s homeland

6. The ‘6ix’

8. Don’t even think about bringing chewing gum with you

10. On the southern tip of Spain and part of the United Kingdom

12. This archipelago is home to the world’s largest tortoise

15. Capital of Greenland (yes, it does have one)

16. Most populous country in Africa

18. The Burj Khalifa is located here

19. The volcano in Iceland that erupted in 2010

20. It may not be real, but the Beach Boys love this Florida Key

21. These Spanish islands share a name with a small yellow bird

22. If this country’s type of horse ever leaves, it can never return

24. Natural habitat of the Kiwi

27. Home to the golden temple in Sikhism

28. Angkor Wat is here

30. Moses floated down this as a baby

31. Split between Tanzania and Kenya, and great for a safari

32. Africa’s tallest mountain

35. The former city gate in Berlin

36. It’s in Ukraine, unless you’re asking Russia

37. The windy city

38. Exporter of Fjallraven Kånken

 

 

Down

 

1. This city-state is sometimes called a playground for the rich and famous

2. This crater is an annular lake sometimes referred to as the “eye of Quebec”

3. This area is made up of 26 countries with no partitioning borders

5. Down under’s Ottawa

6. Current-day Siam

7. Madonna dreamt of it last night

9. The home of jazz

11. Home to Uluru

13. Encircled by Theron's homeland

14. Its tagline is: “Where France meets North America”

17. Largest Muslim-majority country

23. It has a global seed vault in case of Doomsday

25. This lake is better than all the rest

26. Bissau, Papua New, Equatorial…

29. Balkan city or tasty frozen dessert

31. Host country of the Hajj

33. Earthworms as large as snakes have recently been found on this Scottish isle

34. The Dodo’s old stomping ground

 

 

Trib Mix
a, Arts & Entertainment, Books, Film and TV

Past vs. Present: Paradise Lost (1667) vs. Ex Machina (2015)

by Imogen Malpas on

More in a:

Warning: This piece contains spoilers from the film Ex Machina.

Alex Garland’s 2015 film Ex Machina is, in fairly obvious ways, a creation story for the modern age. Nathan (Oscar Isaac)—who strikes the balance between charm and egomania with uncanny precision—is the film’s self-styled deity. Nathan is Narcissus equipped with a research lab; instead of staring at his own reflection, he creates one that can stare back, from a head mounted on what is essentially a transparent Victoria’s Secret model with actress Alicia Vikander’s face. This is Ava, an incredibly human artificial intelligence (AI) to whom a young programmer Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson) is brought ostensibly for research purposes. It soon becomes clear that the testing is mutual; Ava, like Eve, knows how to use her “beauty and submissive charms” to make her bid for freedom right under the noses of the men watching her.

In John Milton’s 17th-century epic poem, Paradise Lost, Satan gives the readers a bird’s eye view of the “delicious paradise” that is Eden, a newly created Earth that one imagines would look a lot like the sweeping Norwegian vistas of Ex Machina’s opening sequence. But access to Eden, like Nathan’s elusive estate, is by invitation only­—a “steep wilderness” that screams, in words that could have come straight out of Alex Garland’s script, “access denied.” After a closer look, something dark is already present. In a perfect world, rivers should not run with “mazy,” “serpent error.” More than ‘too good to be true,’ it’s too good to be permanent. Rob Hardy’s exquisite cinematography in Ex Machina gives us a similar feeling, the bright greenery of the landscape almost threatening us in its absence of threat, its lack of shadows. You’d be forgiven for expecting a good old-fashioned jump scare as the camera pans innocently across another stunning, glass-walled interior. Of course, the real scare—that the danger is inside humans, in their own susceptibility to temptation—is the age-old punchline of both Milton’s epic poem and Ex Machina. Caleb’s desperate assault on the glass door in the film’s penultimate scene is the moment that the punchline hits: He has, in rewiring the building’s lockdown protocol to aid Ava’s escape, trapped himself inside it forever. It’s easy to laugh at his naïveté, but it’s nothing new; three and a half centuries earlier, Milton’s Adam fell “fondly overcome with female charm.”

Although it does have its saving graces, Paradise Lost can hardly be considered the seminal feminist text of its time. It appears that Ex Machina, with its stark feminisation of AI, is not much better. A turning point in the plot is when viewers discover that the mysterious power cuts  that have allowed Ava to discuss her escape plan with Caleb in private were in fact Ava’s work all along. Ultimately her power of manipulation, both of Nathan’s technology and Caleb’s emotions, are what free her from her high-tech prison. Her triumphant exit, leaving her creator dead and her liberator imprisoned as she was, is the kind of ending Paradise Lost might have had  if it were written in the ’90s by a riot grrrl between anarchist band rehearsals. Sadly, it wasn’t, and Eve barely gets a taste of autonomy before her fall sends her begging for Adam’s forgiveness. As for Ava, her triumph is tainted—yes, she gets to choose how to present herself before facing the world for the first time, but only by peeling the skin and limbs off of discarded versions of herself, in a scene heavy with the shock of implicated violence.

In one of the film’s most emotionally charged moments, Ava asks Caleb, “What will happen to me if I fail your test?” It’s a question that could just have easily been posed by Adam and Eve to God; none of these new creations understand death, “whatever thing Death be.” Milton’s Eden is like God’s test for humans, a test failed when the shiny allure of temptation proved too much to resist. And if Ex Machina has anything to add to that story, it’s that over time, humans haven’t gotten better at resisting. 

a, Student Life, The Viewpoint

The Viewpoint: Être Avec Toi

by Emma Whitehall on

More in a:

Être Avec Toi (ÊAT) is a dining experience unlike anything else Montreal has to offer. Located outside the McGill bubble on Rue du Square-Victoria, this new restaurant concept attached to the W Hotel was born of a collaboration between Sid Lee Architecture, specializing in cutting-edge designs, and MASSIVart, an agency with a mission to “amplify moments with art.” Together, the duo has brought together the worlds of visual art and fine dining in an unparalleled, innovative fashion. 

The restaurant’s aesthetic is modern from the moment you walk in the entrance, which itself is an impressive collaboration between two local street artists, Stikki Peaches and What Is Adam. They have covered the walls in an engaging homage to Montreal Canadiens hockey legends such as Maurice Richard and Bernard ‘Boom Boom’ Geoffrion, as well as other Canadian cultural references such as a ‘Maple Sizzurp’ installation referencing real Canadian maple syrup canisters. 

Moving into the bar and restaurant area, patrons’ eyes are immediately drawn to the venue’s walls, which are covered in modern and contemporary pieces with bold colours and unique images, such as a pig wearing a crown and a massive mural of a roller coaster. The art pieces are interspersed with blank white spaces. The hand-selected artists chosen by MASSIVart will paint live in the restaurant a few times a month to fill the spaces, making the dining room into a project that is continuously evolving.

As Jean Pelland, architect and partner at Sid Lee Architecture, illustrates in ÊAT’s promotional video, “[The concept] was about the artistic nature of the food and how we wanted to create a mirrored image with the environment, so bringing art was very natural, and it became about running in parallel food and art.”

ÊAT features a seafood-based menu with a few options for those otherwise inclined. It is unquestionably a foodie’s paradise. The unshelled half-lobster was very tender, and the meal had an option for two sides. Broccoli and cauliflower were chosen, and both were uniquely charred, adding to the overall taste. 

In addition to the impressive textures and flavours of the food is an impeccable staff and wait service. Everyone from managers, hostesses, waiters, to the chef were constantly checking on guests and ensuring everyone’s evenings were going well in a friendly, light-hearted manner. 

Unfortunately, fine food and high calibre service does not come cheap. On a student’s budget, ÊAT would be most sensibly left to special occasions. Looking at the menu, it would be impossible to order an appetizer and entrée for less than $30. The experience would also subsist as something much more doable for students on an evening when the live artists are in house since then patrons are treated to dinner and a show. 

Evenings with live artists in-house are an immersive experience. It is a pioneering concept to watch the artists’ visions come to life in between when drinks arrive and the dessert menu is placed on the table. For those interested, the next upcoming evenings featuring live artists will be Feb. 4 and 19. 

As spaces on the walls fill up with art, the evolving nature of the concept is what makes this restaurant truly new. Every aspiring entrepreneur knows that creating something totally outside of what everyone else is doing generates a much more significant risk. ÊAT has dove in boldly and confidently with their concept, and so far the restaurant seems to be thriving among the local business crowd and trendy foodies alike, all looking for something novel in their dining experience.

1 … 771 772 773 774 775 … 1,364

Read the latest issue

Read the latest issue