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Science & Technology

How elite coaches navigate adversity and sustain success

by K. Coco Zhang on

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What does it take to win consistently at the highest level of Olympic and professional sports? While a growing body of research is examining serial winning coaches—those who have led teams and athletes to gold medals and championships over extended periods—most studies have focused exclusively on their triumphs, leaving a critical gap in understanding how they navigate periods of adversity.

In light of this, Madison Fraser, a researcher at the McGill Sport Psychology Research Laboratory, collaborated with Gordon Bloom, a professor of Sport Psychology at McGill and the lab’s director, to investigate how successful coaches handle difficult seasons. Their study sheds light on the strategies elite coaches employ when facing challenges that threaten team success and morale. 

At the core of high-performing teams is team culture—the shared goals and behavioural norms that unite athletes. While strong team culture fosters unity and cohesion, poor culture can lead to miscommunication and conflict as athletes operate under different behavioural guidelines.

Fraser identified athlete motivation as a key factor in cultural breakdown within the team. 

“Several coaches mentioned a lack of drive within their team, where they had been successful for so long that senior athletes developed a mindset of ‘we’re going to win.’ Winning became more of an expectation [than an aspiration]. They were missing that extra motivation to strive for excellence,” Fraser explained in an interview with The Tribune.

The study also revealed the disruptive influence of what coaches considered “problem athletes”—those who often fail to uphold team values.

“Sometimes there’s role conflict—the athlete wants to be the star player while the coach [envisions them as] a role player. In other cases, athletes might come from environments where selfish behaviour was tolerated,” Bloom said in an interview with The Tribune.

Coaches have developed various strategies to address these challenges, including early identification of potential issues, establishing clear expectations, and building meaningful relationships with athletes.

However, the first encounter with a challenging season often proves particularly daunting, even for experienced coaches. The study revealed that post-season reflection emerged as a crucial practice, with coaches analyzing both their actions and those of their athletes to implement improvements for subsequent seasons. 

Another key finding was the importance of strong social support networks—from family, staff, or organizations—to help coaches better handle stress during difficult periods. 

“Coaches need to feel like they are not carrying the weight of their team’s success alone. That was a real struggle for a lot of them this season. Some even felt their universities weren’t as supportive once the team stopped winning, despite years of success,” Fraser said. “Having that social support is huge. It can really help reduce pressure and support overall well-being, which is something we’ve seen backed up in research, too.”

While this study focused on Canadian university coaches, Fraser acknowledged the need for broader research across different coaching contexts and levels. Future research following coaches over longer periods could provide greater insights into the psychological flexibility that impacts the fluid nature of team culture throughout a season.

Additionally, the findings were limited to the perspectives of head coaches, suggesting future research could benefit from including insights from athletes, assistant coaches, or other team personnel. 

Bloom also emphasized the importance of incorporating crisis management into coach education.

“In coach education classes, we don’t focus on what to do when things fall off the rails. High-level coaches need preparation for handling their first bad season,” Bloom said.

This research underscores that even the most accomplished coaches face significant challenges. Their ability to learn from these experiences and implement strategic changes often determines their long-term success. By better understanding how elite coaches navigate difficult seasons, the sports community can better prepare future leaders for both triumph and adversity.

Science & Technology

Weekly Ozempic shown to improve control of type 1 diabetes

by Daniel Pyo on

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While both type 1 and type 2 diabetes involve issues with insulin—a hormone needed to absorb sugar from the bloodstream to produce energy—their methods of action are not the same. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which a patient’s immune system attacks their pancreatic cells, thereby preventing the production of insulin. Type 2 diabetes (T2D), on the other hand, involves insulin resistance and a gradual loss of insulin production. 

For decades, management of T1D has revolved around insulin therapy, requiring patients to balance blood sugar levels by using automated insulin delivery (AID) systems while carefully monitoring diet and physical activity. 

However, a new study conducted by McGill researchers suggests that combining AID systems with semaglutide—an injectable medication that slows digestion, reduces appetite, and stimulates insulin release from the pancreas, known commercially as Ozempic—could help people with T1D gain more control over blood sugar levels while simultaneously using less insulin. This research marks a major step forward, as semaglutide has primarily been used for T2D and weight management.

Melissa-Rosina Pasqua, an assistant professor in McGill’s Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, conducted this research with 28 T1D patients, observing the effects of semaglutide as an add-on therapy to AID. 

After 11 weeks of gradually increasing semaglutide dosage, followed by four weeks on full-dose treatment while using the AID system, the study found several key benefits from employing both treatments simultaneously. Patients experienced improved blood sugar control, spending 4.8 per cent more time within their target glucose range than a placebo group. 

Additionally, daily insulin requirements decreased by an average of 11.3 units, indicating a reduced need for insulin to manage blood sugar levels. Participants also saw an average of 5.3 kilograms of weight loss—a significant finding given the rising prevalence of obesity among individuals with T1D. Importantly, the treatment did not lead to a significant increase in hypoglycemia—when blood sugar levels are too low—which is a major safety concern for diabetes management. 

“This was in keeping with what we see in other populations using this drug, such as weight loss, blood sugar, less insulin, but it was nice to see it in T1D. Other similar drugs have been studied in T1D, like liraglutide, but never with this form of insulin therapy, and not with such pronounced effects,” Pasqua said in an interview with The Tribune. 

Even with AID systems, many people with T1D struggle to maintain stable blood sugar levels. Post-meal blood sugar spikes remain one of the biggest challenges for T1D patients, as rapid changes in glucose levels can be difficult to control. By slowing digestion and reducing the need for large insulin doses, semaglutide treatment may help prevent these extreme fluctuations.

“AID is great for overnight glucose control, but there are still issues meeting targets for daytime glucose, mostly due to meals. Semaglutide predominantly helped with this obstacle,” Pasqua said.

Despite promising results, Pasqua noted that additional research is needed before semaglutide can be widely recommended for T1D. Two participants experienced a rare condition called euglycemic ketosis, a state where the body produces ketones—a backup energy source—despite normal blood sugar levels. While this did not progress to serious complications, it underscores the need for further safety evaluations.

Additionally, some participants struggled to tolerate the highest dose of semaglutide, suggesting that personalized dosing strategies may be necessary. Future research will explore how to maximize benefits while minimizing side effects.

“It’s important to take the results with a grain of salt. This drug is not for everyone, and it’s still important to be careful of side effects,” Pasqua said.

For now, semaglutide remains an off-label option for T1D patients, but these results suggest that new treatments are on the horizon. With further research, a weekly injection could someday be a game-changer in diabetes care, offering more control over blood sugar, lower insulin needs, and improved overall health.

Arts & Entertainment, Books

Is ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ a textbook for life?

by Bianca Sugunasiri on

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If you had asked me at age 10 what I most wanted to be, I would’ve said a demigod. No series has ever commanded my attention and captured my affections the way that Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians saga has. His world dances along the cusp of reality and fiction, stealing my imagination with no intention to return it. 

I fantasized about which godly parent might claim me, donning an orange shirt and brandishing a toy dagger. Riordan’s characters were my dearest friends and teachers, fostering bravery, cleverness, and kindness. I travelled from the entrance of the Underworld to the heights of Olympus, fought battles against Cyclopes and paddled across the River Styx without ever leaving my bedroom. I was privy to a world that no one else could see; so enamoured that during exams I painstakingly forced myself to lock away my beloved books, because how on earth could one be expected to study DNA strands when my darling characters were floundering in Tartarus? 

This March, back in my childhood bedroom, I revisited my favourite passages. Staring at the worn covers, I wondered what had entranced me back then. As I flipped through the lovingly dog-eared pages (book purists, please stay calm), the sentences bore the same effect that they had on me all that time ago—a world of magic and miracles just as vivid in colour as it was through young eyes, if not more. Revisiting Camp Half-Blood as an adult, I have a deepened appreciation for its complexity. 

I was drawn back by a particular passage in Riordan’s The House of Hades— an argument where Cupid forces demigod Nico di Angelo to confess his heart’s deepest secret. With more naive eyes, I had seen Cupid as a brute, a target of my impassioned anger. But reading it again led me to realize the character personifies an intrinsically real facet of love: The part that’s uncomfortable and terrifying, that strips you to vulnerability. 

The world of mythology walks the line between fantasy and fact, reflecting our day-to-day experiences through lofty quests and fated prophecies. It is because of this parallel that, for centuries, we have felt so strongly for these characters and recreated them age after age. Where other words might struggle to leave the pages of a book and take flight in imagination, mythology comes alive as if enchanted. 

This world of myth and magic followed me through to adulthood, turning my attention towards the Trojan War. My passion for Greek mythology passed from Percy to Patroclus when I read The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller and wept over his tragic heartbreak. I became enraptured with the song “Achilles Come Down” by Gang of Youths, a seven-minute depiction of Achilles’ psychological turmoil, as he’s choked by grief, hovering on a precipice. I was further enticed to read Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad, a beautiful blend of prose and poetry in the voices of Trojan War women long forgotten. 

The influence of mythology is timeless throughout art, literature, and performance. Everyone in the modern age has consumed traces of mythology, whether they are aware of it or not. So deeply ingrained in pop culture, it’s hard to notice its presence. It is in our common vernacular—Achilles’ heel, playing at Cupid. It’s in brands we use often: Nike, Amazon. Even Mythology-inspired media: If you’re a Swiftie, you’ve probably heard the song “Cassandra,” based on the myth of Cassandra of Troy. 

Elizabeth Ellison, Department Head of Classical and World Languages & Individuals and Societies at Elmwood School, gave the example of Finding Nemo in an interview with The Tribune. She often uses this as a gateway to introduce Homer’s  Odyssey. Traces of myths exist even in the archetypes that most stories are carved from today, from the oversexualized and underestimated Helen of Troy to the foolhardy and ambitious Achilles.

It is truly singular how mythology has transcended regions and time in this way. But why? Why is it that mythology delights and inspires, centuries after its inception? 

Lynn Kozak, associate professor of Classics at McGill University, suggested in an interview with The Tribune that myths allow for immeasurable multiplicity—infinite “fanfictions” reviving the same stories over and over. These core myths are so robust that no matter how many times they are reformed, much like the Ancient Greek monsters, they continue to attract attention. Within this variation, there are numerous gaps to fill and interpret, allowing for the easy proliferation of new stories. 

Ellison articulated some additional reasons why myths continue to captivate youth today. For her, the core of these stories is their humanness—and it is what draws us back time and time again. In the words of Homer’s Achilles, “[the gods] envy us because we are mortal, because any moment may be our last. Everything is more beautiful because we are doomed.” 

The gods are compelling because they are crafted to be sacred but never rise above human fallibility. Gods, heroes, and monsters alike have become the tropes constantly revisited through culture, their lessons acted out in centuries of art. We cling to them because it allows us to access timeless human elements, to adopt perspectives that provide clarity and connection.

Mythology is accessible not only in its content, but also its form: Storytelling. Ellison shared an anecdote of a time she was stuck on a bus in Athens and decided to share a well-known story to pass the time. Children and adults alike were at the edge of their seats, urging her to go on. Beyond the story itself, sharing it in this form paid homage to how myths were once propagated verbally— a form that, although uncommon, still captivates audiences today. It draws on the human desire for relatedness through imagination by skirting the edges of our reality and touching on the universal struggles and joys that bind us together. 

To consume mythology is to look into a mirror that reflects our own world; but that mirror soon becomes a portal to another world entirely. 

Ellison also notes that these modern reimaginings foster accessibility for young students, funneling them towards mythological interest. They play on children’s innate curiosity about the world, drawing them past the modern retelling back to history. Kozak seconds this notion, describing these interpretations as “gateway drugs”  to discovering the core myths. 

Although modern reimaginings can have wonderful effects, there can be a concern about becoming oversimplified in our adaptations— something that Kozak highlighted. They referenced a paper they co-wrote on Miller’s Song of Achilles, mentioning how it was almost too homonormative. Achilles and Patroclus’ romantic relationship was so clearly defined that it lost the relational complexity present in Homer’s Iliad. They intimated that revisions of ancient myths, particularly attempts to highlight silenced voices, can come at the expense of engaging with the aspects of those characters that already exist. Kozak mentions Atwood’s The Penelopiad as an example where the confident intelligence that typified Homer’s Penelope was eclipsed by something more martyr-like. 

Despite their flaws, I am eternally grateful for myth reincarnations as they’ve granted me both companionship and knowledge. From Orpheus and Eurydice, I learned to trust in love and oneself; from Daedalus and Icarus, to be mindful of hubris and to moderate ambition; and, of course, Hades and Persephone taught me never to accept pomegranates from shadowy men. All equally valuable morals. 

Mythology is a tie that weaves through time and space to bind us. It connects us to history, childhood, and one another. I hope to return to Camp Half-Blood one day, as I know there are infinite adventures to be had and numerous lessons to be learned. But for now, I leave you with the words of Nico di Angelo: “With great power comes… great need to take a nap. Wake me up later.” 

McGill, News, SSMU

SSMU Legislative Council discusses updates on Black Student Inclusion policy, MoA renegotiation, and First Year Council election

by K. Coco Zhang on

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The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) held its fourth Legislative Council meeting of the year on Thursday, Feb. 27, discussing a Black Student Inclusion policy, Coucillor updates, and the granting of full status to several McGill clubs. 

The meeting began with an announcement from a representative of Agence Voltaic, announcing that their photography studio is now open on weekends and evenings to accommodate more students, in an effort to address low participation in graduation photos.

Next, Vice President (VP) University Affairs Abe Berglas discussed the launch of a special research project focused on students facing financial difficulties, and spoke to their current efforts to advocate for students through the McGill Senate. 

“We are collectively drafting a letter to Deep Saini about the vandalism that happened on campus with the windows because he asked senators to consider that,” Berglas said. “We also met with a suicidality caseworker at the Office of the Dean of Students in response to the death of a first-year student about a month ago.”

Berglas concluded with an update on the progress of renegotiating SSMU’s Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with McGill, which has since been completed. 

Following this, Athletics Councillor Melanie Renaud presented the Athletics and Recreation Report. She highlighted that the Varsity Council recently organized a holiday charity event to collect over 100 shoe boxes filled with donated supplies for unhoused women. 

The Varsity Council also hosted a successful Welcome Back brunch on Jan. 22, which brought together over 150 athletes from 16 different teams. Looking ahead, the 2025 motionball Marathon of Sport, scheduled for March 23, will raise funds for and awareness of the Special Olympics Canada Foundation. 

The meeting then moved to a brief question period. Science Councillor Eric Zhao raised a concern regarding the delay in the First Year Council (FYC) election. President Dymetri Taylor attributed the issue to a miscommunication between the SSMU Elections team and the VP Internal, which had resulted in an advertisement oversight. 

“The Vice-President believed that the Elections team would be the ones to advertise for the election, while the Elections team believed the Vice President would be the one that would be advertising it,” Taylor explained. 

Taylor further explained that holding the election mid-year was impractical due to timing constraints and logistical issues. Moving forward, the next president will be responsible for organizing an election in September to establish the FYC. He also noted that, due to the human resource nature of the issue, issuing warning letters could complicate the election process further. 

The Council then moved to discuss the SSMU Policy on Black Student Advancement and Inclusion. This Policy aims to ensure targeted support for Black students at McGill, establish accountability structures to address systemic barriers, enhance Black student representation in leadership and decision-making roles, and provide financial and institutional support to Black student groups. After a presentation outlining the Policy’s goal to build on existing efforts and create a more inclusive and supportive environment for Black students at McGill, the motion was approved. 

Lastly, the Council discussed and approved a Motion on Full Status Club Recommendations, which recommended that the Legislative Council approve the granting of full status to six McGill clubs: Club de Débat Francophone, McGill Climbing Club, McGill E-Sports Students’ Association, Palestinian Cultural Club, and McGill Women’s Networking Group. After brief summaries of each club’s activities, the motion was passed unanimously. The meeting concluded with a confidential session.

Moment of the Meeting:

Berglas discussed they will be holding a queer compassion training on March 12, which will be open to all students. 

Soundbite: 

“Last fall, McGill’s Redbirds soccer team was able to reach playoffs for the first time since 2018, and they didn’t stop there. They went all the way to the semifinal round of the U SPORTS championship.” – Athletics Councillor Melanie Renaud proudly noted as she concluded the Athletics and Recreation Report.

Features

Knit purl, knit exhale

by Mia Helfrich on

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Using fibre arts to de-stress and re-focus

We sat on the comforter in her bedroom, the winter rain drumming on the window. Under the loop, wrap it around, and pull it through. Under, wrap it around, pull it through. Again. This is the way my mother taught me to knit. Over time, the words have faded into my fingers, and the once-vivid memory of learning has exiled itself to my muscles.

If I’m being honest, I’m not a particularly brilliant or speedy knitter. I prefer using simple stitches, and my scarves still turn out squarish or small. But for me, kitting isn’t about the product; it’s about the process. Years after my mother’s lessons, I still pick up a scarf project over the summer to chill out after stressful work days. When doing readings for school, I still knit to give my hands something to occupy themselves with so I can concentrate on the texts. I noticed that the simple repetitive motion of drawing the yarn back and forth is relaxing, meditative, and a way to channel my fidgeting so I can focus.

I wondered if I could unravel other crafters’ stories with fibre arts and see if there is something unique with the needle and thread as a tool for de-stressing and concentration. One consensus was that the slow and gradual repetition is calming—like hearing the predictable splash of a wave on the sand or the low beat of the bass in R&B music.

“[Crochet] is continuous. I don’t have to look at it. I don’t need to think. My brain can just relax,” Evi Missios, Vice President of the McGill Knitting Club, said in an interview with The Tribune.

Noa Garmaise, U2 Management, who has knitted since the age of six, echoed the sentiment: “I think just the repetitive nature of it is very relaxing for me.”

Research backs this up.

“A lot of stress-reduction activities are simple, repetitive things,” said Blaine Ditto, a professor in the Department of Psychology at McGill.

The same response is triggered by other relaxing activities, like watching a video of a tortoise chomping on a banana, listening to our favourite song on loop, or going on a walk and feeling the rhythm of our feet pressing on the pavement. With knitting, people experience the effects of calming through repetition in two distinct ways: A distraction from negative thought patterns and a form of tactile stimulation allowing us to better engage with our environment.

Between midterms, work deadlines, and growing political concerns in my hometown of Washington, DC, I’m often consumed by day-to-day worries. As a student, my life is a constant muddle of coloured chunks on Google Calendar and pages of to-do lists. While stress responses are normal, they’re supposed to fluctuate, surging occasionally to help us manage imminent physical threats and respond to urgent situations. However, ruminations on the future and anticipatory concerns can lead to high levels of continuing stress without a productive outcome.

“People are running scenarios a lot,” Ditto said. “One of the strange things about the stress response is that, in addition to running into the stresses of everyday life, people are sort of creating stress by trying to anticipate and solve problems in advance [….] While taking your mind off of current and possibly future issues, you’re just sinking into this slow, relaxed breathing state.”

When I knit, the turning of the needles over and over between my fingers and the gradual counting of stitches pull me away from my worries and into the present because I’m able to be immersed in my hands instead of my head. The tactile nature of fibre arts provides a sharp contrast to our intangible anxieties. The rhythm of the stitches parallels the slow, relaxed breathing that comes with untangling ourselves from the busyness in our head.

In re-centering ourselves in the present moment through tactile repetition, we also practice mindfulness. As David Dunkley, an associate professor of Psychology at McGill, noted in an interview with The Tribune, mindfulness can apply to any activity that allows us to focus in the moment.

Fibre arts are also unique in that they are portable and easy to bring out in a pinch.

“I keep my knitting and crochet in my bag, so if I’m feeling kind of stressed I can pull it out and, right where I’m sat, I can start destressing right away. I bring it to bars, I bring it to class, I bring it everywhere,” said Jess Sekora, Primary Rep of the McGill Knitting Club.

“If I’m really stressed, like if I have three assignments due this week, I don’t care,” Missios shared. “I would still take out two hours during my day [to crochet] because I knew it would help me. I could just chill for a second and not have to worry about what I have to get done.”

Doing fibre arts doesn’t have to fully cut us off from the world; it can actually tie us into it. I have to remember whether I have to knit or purl, but I’m still able to engage with my surroundings. In class, the mindless repetitive motion is grounding, letting me listen to my professors unobstructed by distractions on my devices.

There is an ongoing scientific debate about the correlation between fidgeting and focus. For example, a 2024 review study published in School Psychology Review finding significant variation between individuals in the efficacy of fidget toys, with no overall positive correlation between fidgeting and focus. However, studies recognize the different ways people find to self-regulate: Kathrine Isbister, a professor of Computational Media at the University of California, Santa Cruz, writes in The Conversation that, “Psychology research about sensation seeking tells us that people often try to adjust their experiences and their environments so that they provide just the right level of stimulation.” Acknowledging that much of the support for fidgeting in focus and relaxation is anecdotal, she emphasizes the importance of trusting people’s personal experiences and allowing them to dial in their sensory input to suit their needs.

For many, including myself, the fibre arts are an aid to consume and absorb information. Garmaise said that, while knitting, she likes to listen to a podcast, and when she was younger, she would read. Missios said that she crochets while watching television. Sekora was knitting a rather intricate hat during our conversation.

For many fibre artists—especially for those who use it while listening to music or looking at screens—knitting and crochet act as a buffer against pure online consumption because they’re still productive activities. We’re not only giving ourselves a tactile repetition that calms us, but—unlike going for a walk or playing a game—we’re also creating something useful and lasting.

“I just found myself being on my phone too much and my screen time being high. I felt sluggish, I just didn’t feel good. And then when I started crocheting, I felt like I was actually productive with my life,” Missios said.

Instead of feeling frustrated or unfulfilled by looking at screens, I’ve gained a sense of accomplishment because I know that I’m producing something that takes effort, patience, and skill. Students, whether for assignments or in relationships, often fall into perfectionism, which sets unachievably high standards. When I knit, the emphasis is on growth, my standard being only to continue manipulating the yarn and improve over time.

“[Through knitting and crochet], I’ve learned patience and letting myself make mistakes. Knitting takes a while, but you really have to let yourself go through the process of it, of creating. There’s no deadlines. It’s just a craft, and it’s not going to be perfect,” Sekora said.

Like many art forms, the community around knitting and crochet is incredibly tight-knit and welcoming. Historically, knitting has not just been an idle hobby, but a way to come together as an act of personal and political expression, especially for women. When I was a kid, my mother brought me and my sister to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, a pastoral event to peruse yarns, pet sheep, and meet other knitters, shepherds, weavers, spinners, and dyers. The fibre arts community doesn’t just encompass those with needles and hooks but all levels of the art, from animals to manufacturers to our homes. At McGill, the Knitting Club has fostered a space to connect and teach other knitters and crocheters, bringing a slice of the community to our campus.

“I mostly don’t even do it for the crochet itself. I was having a hard time finding a friend group at McGill, and then when I came across the Knitting Club, I was like, ‘These people are like me,’” Missios said.

When I knit, I am usually not among other knitters, instead working on a piece while in class, listening to an audiobook, or watching a show with my roommate. Yet, this practice started with my grandmother, then my mother, then me. The skill has been passed through my family generationally, and I now use it to ground myself and relax. Knitting is a thread that connects me to my family, my community, the physical world, and a sense of calm amid my knotted thoughts. When you don’t know what to do with yourself, start with a stitch.

Commentary, Opinion

As non-profit Autism Speaks closes operations in Canada, the federal government must learn from their missteps

by Haleh Cohn on

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When the federal government unveiled its new Framework for Autism in Canada strategy last year—following years of activism demanding a plan to address disparities—the reaction from families impacted by autism was strongly critical.

Opponents argued that the new autism strategy lacked two essential ingredients: Dedicated funding and firm deadlines. This news coincided with the decision of the non-profit Autism Speaks (AS) to close its Canadian operations last month, this time eliciting celebration from many in the autism community.

AS had long ago gained a reputation as a controversial organization. Its original mission was to find a “cure” for autism, and in later years it ran offensive advertisements and indulged the idea that vaccines may cause autism—a theory that experts have repeatedly proved to be false. 

Now, in a decisive moment where critics are calling for the federal government to establish better support for those in the autism community, AS’s missteps should act as guidance towards more effective and comprehensive federal autism support. 

This starts with including the voices of those with autism. For its first decade of operation, AS did not have representation of individuals with autism on its Board of Directors. While the Canadian government purports to use a “Nothing Without Us” principle—ensuring those with lived experience are meaningfully involved—there must be a standard of continued consultation with autism advocates and stakeholders when implementing recommendations.

In 2024, AS allocated only 12 per cent of spending towards services and support going directly to people with autism and their families. The organization’s Canadian branch reported spending about five million dollars to connect families with resources over the past eleven years. For reference, the company has had an average expenditure of as much as four million dollars annually, since 2006. The remaining money was spent on research, fundraising, and awareness. 

AS also repeatedly ignored advocates and neglected to address their complaints. In 2009, they released an ad campaign, titled I Am Autism, comparing autism to cancer and blaming autistic children for their parents’ failed marriages. After aggressive backlash, AS removed the clip and promised to shift away from negative, fear-based messaging. However, they continued to produce content with the same harmful tone, framing autism as a tragic condition. In 2019, their 100-Day Kit for parents of newly diagnosed autistic children mentioned the stages of grief for those who want their children to “get better.” While the toolkit does contain useful material to help parents adjust, it also attributed spousal arguments to displaced anger about autism, and included a parent testimonial comparing their child’s diagnosis to that of leukemia. Autism is not a fatal disease.

Now, the autism community in Canada is speaking up about its disappointment with the federal framework, which lacks substantial initiative for support for those with autism and their caregivers. The federal government needs to address their disappointments—both from AS and from the government’s own past failures—and deliver a detailed plan that avoids repeating these past mistakes. 

The government’s excuse for its insufficient autism support resources has been largely attributed to jurisdictional squabbles, as they cite the fact that healthcare is under provincial control. Quebec released an action plan on Autism Spectrum Disorder for 2017-2022, which was generally comprehensive but also lacked clarity on enacting measures. No specific updated action plan has been released since.

In recent years, AS changed its mission statement, apologized for its harmful ad, appointed members with autism to its board, and stopped funding research casting doubt on vaccines. But its response was belated. While AS Canada claims public perception was not a factor in its closure, the damage was done and it was clearly too late to make amends.

To operationalize their new strategy, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has established the National Autism Network, setting aside six and a half million dollars over five years. As this sum gets carved out, the Canadian government should note the failures of AS to prioritize services. They need to avoid following in their footsteps by dedicating sufficient amounts to reducing diagnosis wait times, opening up spots in group homes, and improving access to education. 

There’s still time, however, for the federal government to get it right.

Editorial, Opinion

Privatization derails transportation accessibility

by The Tribune Editorial Board on

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Montreal’s public transit system is at its breaking point. Ongoing weather and power disruptions to the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) light-rail network, budgetary challenges within the Societé de Transport de Montréal (STM), and most recently, the looming threat of privatization of essential transit services have left users and workers frustrated. Recent plans to outsource STM’s paratransit minibus system are the catalyst for fierce opposition from union members and riders who argue that privatization will increase costs and reduce service quality for those who rely on accessible transportation. 

With public transit funding stagnating and private interests creeping into essential services, Montreal must make a choice: Invest in a robust, publicly-controlled transit system, or risk an unreliable, inequitable future shaped by corporate priorities. The need for sustainable public investment has never been more urgent.

Public transit is more than a convenience: It is a fundamental service that ensures mobility, equity, and accessibility in urban centres like Montreal. Paratransit, a door-to-door public transit service for people with disabilities, is particularly a lifeline for many residents such as seniors and people who use mobility aids and cannot access standard bus and metro services. The ability they provide to move freely, easily, and safely within communities offers numerous benefits. Paratransit provides wider access to services and employment opportunities, while also playing a crucial role in combating social isolation, especially among the elderly. 

Currently, over 12,000 people rely on paratransit daily. Although taxis—which make up 90 per cent of paratransit trips—are already privatized, the STM’s decision to outsource a portion of its publicly-operated minibuses marks a dangerous shift toward deeper privatization. The STM has framed this move as a cost-cutting measure, but privatization in public transit has historically led to diminished service, higher costs for customers, and reduced accountability of the companies who own the transit services.

Beyond immediate accessibility concerns, this decision reflects a broader trend: When public services are privatized, they cease to be goods accessible to all. Private companies are not accountable to residents in the same way that tax-funded institutions are, giving them the opportunity to prioritize profit over community needs. 

Meanwhile, 2,400 STM maintenance workers have overwhelmingly voted in favour of a strike mandate, signalling deep unrest over the direction of transit funding and labour conditions. Workers have repeatedly raised alarm bells about the consequences of increased subcontracting—when jobs are outsourced, employees lose union protections, wages stagnate, and working conditions deteriorate. Accessibility is not just about transit users, but about workers’ rights. Poor working conditions disproportionately impact employees with disabilities, mental health concerns, or other barriers to employment. If transit jobs become precarious, who will ensure the transit system runs efficiently, safely, and reliably? As such, even small acts of privatization can have a far-reaching and detrimental ripple effect for workers and customers alike.

Additionally, given the incompatibility of sustainability with financial profit under capitalism, private companies unfortunately have little incentive to invest in green transit solutions. Without aggressive public investment, Montreal risks entrenching an environmentally unfriendly dependency on cars—which are themselves inaccessible to many due to disabilities or expense—instead of advancing sustainable, collective transportation solutions.

Montrealers, too, must take an active role in supporting and advocating for public transit. The government needs to see that there is a demand for well-funded, publicly-operated transportation. Consumer power matters—if we want strong public transit, we need to use it, support it, and defend it against privatization. 

Students, in particular, have a responsibility to push back against transportation’s privatization. If you can afford a transit pass, pay for it—fare evasion only weakens the system. In addition, McGill itself must explore ways to subsidize or provide free transit passes, a practice that many other universities have already adopted. This would not only ease financial burdens on students and faculty but encourage more people to rely on public transport over cars. 

Public transportation is a public good. Without proper investment and protection from privatization, corporate profit motives threaten this right to accessibility. The government must be held accountable, and we must continue to demand a transportation system that works for everyone.

McGill, News

Student living at La Citadelle claims lack of support from McGill following the death of her roommate

by Daniel Miksha on

More in McGill:

Content Warning: Mentions of suicide

Mabel,* U0 Arts, woke up in her shared dorm room in La Citadelle Residence on Jan. 11 and realized something was seriously wrong. In the moment, Mabel wasn’t sure who to turn to. With her friend Alex,* U0 Arts, Mabel decided to go down to the lobby of La Citadelle to ask for help at the front desk. After police arrived, they found that her roommate had passed away. As Mabel tried to recover in the coming weeks, she found herself tangled in bureaucracy and felt unsupported by McGill’s response to her needs.

Alex described the man at the front desk of La Citadelle who called the police as inconsiderate and said he didn’t seem to be taking the issue seriously.

“When he called the police, he said, ‘These girls are complaining that their roommate is unresponsive in the bathroom,’” Alex told The Tribune. “He just did not take it seriously at all. [He wasn’t acting like] he was calling the police about somebody’s life. And then he was saying, ‘You guys should have come down earlier.’ He was just being so insensitive.”

The McGill Media Relations Office (MRO) did not respond to The Tribune’s request to comment on this interaction.

When the police arrived at La Citadelle, they found that Mabel’s roommate had passed away. The Quebec coroner’s office has not confirmed the cause of death.

Mabel was connected with McGill’s Suicide Case Manager, and they spoke over the phone. 

“At that point, I really didn’t want to talk about it because it was a few hours after it happened, and I just kind of wanted to, I don’t know, sit, just be able to process my feelings,” Mabel said.

Mabel told The Tribune that she never met the Suicide Case Manager in person, but they kept in contact through email. 

Since her room had to be treated as a crime scene, Mabel received a key card from the Building Manager to room 2503 in La Citadelle, where she could move her belongings over the next few days.

On Jan. 11, Mabel was allowed one trip to retrieve essentials from her room. She claims she was not told when she would be able to retrieve the rest of her belongings and had to reach out to McGill Student Housing and Hospitality Services (SHHS) by email multiple times before she received a response.

Room 2503 had a different layout from the room she was living in before, and Mabel said she was surrounded by friends and had the space and stability she needed to start to heal. However, 10 days after she moved in, Mabel reported receiving an email from SHHS telling her she had to move out. 

 In an email exchange acquired by The Tribune, Mabel explained to SHHS  that she thought she would be able to stay in room 2503 for the remainder of the semester.

“At the time of receiving this room, I was under the impression that this room was a permanent solution, as communicated by the Building Manager, who assured me it would not be rented out to anyone else and stated that offering me this room was the least he could do under the circumstances,” Mabel wrote to SHHS.

Mabel claimed that prior to being offered room 2503, she was told she could consider living with a friend. She said if she had known her stay in room 2503 would only be temporary, she might have chosen the option to move in with a friend instead. 

In her email, Mabel expressed her desire to stay in room 2503, saying it gave her a sense of safety she did not want to lose. 

“When I moved into this room, it became a space of stability for me after a deeply traumatic experience,” Mabel wrote. “The prospect of having to move again is overwhelming and disruptive to both my academic and personal life [….] All of this combined has caused considerable physical and mental distress, including nightmares and difficulty focusing on my studies.”

Mabel wrote to SHHS that she was distressed by the prospect of having to move into a room that had a similar floor plan to the one she woke up in on Jan. 11.

“Moving to a room with a similar setup and bathroom as my previous one would be particularly traumatic given what I witnessed there firsthand [….] Being placed in a similar environment would trigger those memories, severely affecting my mental well-being,” Mabel wrote to SHHS.

According to an email obtained by The Tribune, SHHS offered Mabel accommodation in other residences, and the option of moving into a single room in La Citadelle. However, Mabel wanted to stay in La Citadelle in order to remain close to her friends and was wary that a single room would be too isolating.

“Throughout this process, McGill administration has repeatedly assured me that they would help me with anything I need to recover from this experience,” Mabel wrote to SHHS. “The support I require is to remain in the space where I feel safe and can begin to rebuild after what I went through. This room has become a place where I can grieve and process what happened, with the support of friends. ”

In the email communications, a spokesperson for SHHS expressed their sympathies and recommended Mabel reach out to the Suicide Crisis Manager she had been put in contact with. However, they made it clear that Mabel was expected to move into a room reserved by SHHS by the end of the week, despite her concerns.

“When I reached out to [the Suicide Case Manager], hoping to hear about the situation, she didn’t really support me through it,” Mabel told The Tribune. “She was like, ‘Yeah, I’m sorry, you just have to move out.’” 

In an email acquired by The Tribune, SHHS explained to Mabel that room 2503 is not a permanent rentable space for students, and was only made temporarily available under exceptional circumstances.

The Tribune reached out to the MRO to inquire whether any steps were taken to make 2503 a workable space for Mabel to live in for the rest of the semester but was not provided any specific answers.

“As a matter of respect for the privacy of those grieving, as well as for the protection of personal information – consistent with McGill policy and in accordance with the law – we will not comment on details of services offered or rendered to any individual student,” MRO wrote to The Tribune.

Six days after being told she had to live in a different room, Mabel moved her belongings into room 1803 of La Citadelle. McGill offered to provide her with boxes and tape for the move, which she refused. McGill’s response to her needs following the passing of her roommate left Mabel frustrated and questioning McGill’s care for students’ mental health.

The MRO maintained that McGill is committed to supporting students living in residences, particularly those impacted by the passing of the student on Jan. 11.

“Our principal focus is on efforts to extend concrete support to members of our campus community who were close to the deceased student,” the MRO wrote. “This occurs through our Student Wellness Hub, the Office of the Dean of Students, and the Residences team.” 

For Mabel, these existing supports are not enough. 

“[McGill is] such a bureaucratic system,” Mabel told The Tribune. “It’s very much a whole facade, I think, the whole support thing. They’re here to talk. They’re here for therapy or counselling, but in a situation like [this one], you need to be very much aware of specific people’s needs.” 

If you are in distress, or need someone to talk to, support is available through the Student Wellness Hub. If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call 9-8-8, Canada’s suicide crisis line, or 9-1-1.

*Mabel and Alex’s names have been changed to preserve their anonymity.

Cross-Country / Track, Hockey, Martlets, Men's Varsity, Sports, Volleyball

McGill athletes strive for victory in playoffs

by Shani Laskin, Clara Smyrski, Anoushka Oke on

More in Cross-Country / Track:

Last week was a milestone for McGill Athletics as several teams competed in playoff games and meets, striving to move onto future playoff rounds or to surpass their season bests.

McGill Swim RSEQ conference championship: 

The men’s and women’s swim teams dominated their respective competitions on Sunday, Feb. 16, both taking home their fifth consecutive Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) titles. 

The swim teams did not just win: They left their competitors in the dust. The Martlets came in first with 996 points—a more than 250-point lead over the second-place finishers, the University of Ottawa (uOttawa) Gee-Gees. Women’s swimming also saw 28 podiums, winning 13 gold medals, seven silver medals, and eight bronze medals. The team took home gold in all five relays in the competition. 

The Redbirds similarly cruised to victory, coming in at 952.5 points, a whopping 367 points ahead of the second-place uOttawa. They secured 13 golds, nine silvers, and nine bronzes, adding up to 31 podiums overall. 

While the conference sweep was a collective effort, some swimmers stood out from the pack, with Elizabeth Ling and Loïc Courville-Fortin being named the RSEQ athletes of the week. During the championship, Ling took home six gold medals. Meanwhile, Courville snagged five golds, and broke both the McGill and RSEQ records in the 200-metre individual medley. 

Nineteen athletes per team have qualified for the U SPORTS Championship and will head to Toronto on March 6 to round out their impressive season. 

Redbirds Hockey OUA quarterfinals: 

McGill Men’s Hockey took to the ice Wednesday, Feb. 19 for the first game of a best-of-three Ottawa University Athletics (OUA) Quarterfinal series against the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) Patriotes. The Redbirds secured the victory 2-1, bringing them one step closer to an OUA Championship.

The fight was far from over as the two teams matched up again on Feb. 21. The Patriotes managed to slip one past Redbird goalkeeper Alexis Shank only 109 seconds after the starting whistle. Shank took this as a personal hit and only allowed 1 out of 31 shots in for the remainder of the game. Rookie Maxime Pellerin turned the match around with 4:40 left in the first period when he tied it up with a wrist shot. Left winger Stephane Huard kept this momentum going, taking a quick shot to bring the Redbirds up 2-1. However, the Patriotes fought back and tied the game 2-2 at the end of the first period—a goal that would be their last of the game. 

Mathieu Gagnon and William Rouleau—who recently brought home gold at the International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Games—each added a goal to make the score 4-2. This score remained until the Patriotes opted to remove their goalie and put six men on the ice with five minutes left, which allowed Redbirds’ Pellerin to tally his second goal of the game on an open net and seal the outcome of the playoff series in McGill’s favour. 

This impressive win has upset the standard of the OUA playoffs, as UQTR has won the OUA Championships for the last three years. This victory sets the Redbirds up well as they head to the semifinals against their well-known rivals, the Concordia Stingers, on Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Martlets Volleyball RSEQ semifinals: 

Martlets Volleyball faced up against the Université de Montréal Carabins in the first of a three-game semifinal series on Feb. 21 at the Centre CEPSUM. The fourth-ranked Martlets were successful in their aim to bring down the top-seeded Carabins in the matchup, which ended in a 3-1 victory for McGill. Elyssa Lajmi, who has been a powerhouse for the Martlets this season, led the team with 15 kills and 2 aces. Rachel Leduc and Sandrine Methot also had impressive performances, scoring 11 and 8 kills respectively, to bring the Martlets the victory. 

However, with a first-round win in a best-of-three series, it is only too easy to get comfortable. The Martlets fell to the Carabins the following day at Love Competition Hall in a battle that went to five sets. The game was truly a team effort by the Martlets, as it was the first time this season that five players achieved double digits in scoring—Lajmi put up 17, Leduc had an impressive 16.5, Charlotte Chouinard-Laliberte helped out with 15.5 points, and Emilia Grigorova and Methot each added 11 points to the scoreboard. Despite this, the match went to the Carabins, who had a 15-9 victory in the fifth set. 

In the third and final series game at Centre CEPSUM on Sunday, Feb. 23, both teams looked for a spot in the RSEQ Championship series. Though the Carabins were victorious in three straight sets, it is a testament to McGill’s perseverance that in the second two sets, the game got closer and closer. While the first set went to the Carabins 25-17, the second set went 25-20 to the Carabins, and the final set was a nail-biting 26-24 Carabin victory. 

(Armen Erzingatzian / The Tribune)

Track and Field RSEQ Championships:

McGill competed in the RSEQ Championships on Feb. 22, with the Martlets placing third while the Redbirds placed second out of ten teams. Athletes competed in several events, many with the hopes of qualifying for U SPORTS championships.

The Martlets secured two gold medals, with Julie Bortolato placing first in the pole vault and Rebecca Warcholak winning the triple jump. Vanessa Lu Langley scored a silver medal in the 60-metre hurdles, matched by silver medals from both the 4×200-metre and 4×800-metre relay teams. The 4×400-metre relay team placed bronze, as did Kaelie Sanogo in the pentathlon.

For the Redbirds, gold medals came from Luca Nicoletti in the 300-metre, Sacha Dernoncourt in the 1000-metre, Robert Gerstner in the long jump, and the 4-800-metre team who had previously broken the school record in the uOttawa Winter Classic. The 4×200-metre and 4×400-metre relay teams each clinched a silver medal, as did Ben Gates in the 600-metre, Samuel Hepworth in both the 1000-metre and the 1500-metre, and Kilty McGonigal in the heptathlon. To top off the Redbirds’ thirteen-medal tally were bronze medals from William Sanders in the 300-metre and Gerstner in the 60-metre and triple jump.

Between March 6 and March 8, qualifying athletes will compete in the U SPORTS National Championships in Windsor, BC. All athletes who won a gold medal at RSEQ Championships automatically qualify for a spot at Nationals.

Campus Spotlight, Student Life

News of a policy change comes out of the Blues

by Auxane Bussac on

More in Campus Spotlight:

Blues Pub is one of the several student-run bars on campus, providing cheap beverages, delicious food—the grilled cheese is top-tier—and entertainment. While Blues is run by the Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS), it has made the McConnell Engineering Building basement a classic Friday night pit-stop for students from all faculties. One of Blues’ distinguishable features is that it offers live musical performances from bands and DJs, creating an authentic vibe and welcoming environment—which might explain the reaction of students after being hit with news of an amendment to Blues’ policy. 

On Feb. 11, Instagram was turned upside down when Blues announced that only students with a Faculty of Engineering McGill ID would be allowed entry. Engineering students would still be allowed two 18+ guests. The announcement resulted in a swift public outcry from unhappy students. While the rationale behind the decision was not made public, students speculated that overcrowding at Blues may have been a driving factor.

Pinak Ghosh, a recent graduate from the Faculty of Engineering and a regular at Blues for years, commented on the bar’s crowd evolution since the pandemic.

“I remember the first Blues back from COVID, during E-Week Feb. 2022. Since then I’ve been a regular [….] When I first went it really was just engineers, only the graduating students really had an attachment to Blues [….] Since they introduced live music many more people from other faculties started coming,” he wrote in a statement to The Tribune.

Though the spacious McConnell basement’s circular area can fit a large crowd, it has its limits. According to Álvaro Tomassoni, U2 Engineering, the growing popularity of Blues has recently led to overcrowding issues that could explain the introduction of the policy—though he considers it a bit extreme. 

“The lineups at Blues have gotten significantly longer than what I’m used to, especially compared to last year [….] I don’t think [Blues] should be closed to other faculties of course, but I think there should be an order of people who can go in first,” Tomassoni said in an interview with The Tribune. 

The following day, Blues Pub deleted its initial publication and subsequently posted another announcement apologizing for the policy change, revoking it, and stating that the upcoming Friday night Blues would continue as usual, with no priority for engineers. They also announced the formation of a working group “in order to better hear the engineering community.” While some cheered on student activism, others highlighted how quickly things can escalate on social media. The comments on the initial announcement were filled with students sharing their opinions—both support for the policy and critiques of its consequences were expressed blatantly.

Other student bars on campus took this as an opportunity to promote their own activities. On the same day, Bar des Arts (BdA), 4à7, Detention Den, and MUSA Bar posted a joint statement in a humouristic video intended to “condemn [Blues Pub’s] protectionist policies” and welcome students from all faculties to attend their events.

Though the ban was lifted, the overcrowding issue remains salient. Tomassoni offered a potential solution which would allow Engineering students to take advantage of their priority access while still accommodating students from other faculties—therefore making everybody happy.

“I think a good idea to [prioritize people in Engineering] would be to make it so that from 4 to 6, which is happy hour, […] you can only go in if you’re an engineer and you can have one guest. And then from 6 p.m., it’s open to everyone else,” he suggested. 

Looking forward, the creation of a working group will foster discussion about other ways to manage Blues’ crowd, allowing students’ voices to be heard and Blues to remain a welcoming environment for all. As Blues’ second commandment states: “Thou Shalt Bring Engineers and Friendgineers Alike.”

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