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Off the Board, Opinion

A struggle meal, among friends

by Ella Paulin on

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I looked on, half horrified, half intrigued, as she set the timer for 10 minutes. Trying to hide my disgust, I attempted to confirm that this wasn’t some kind of strange mistake, a careless slip of the finger on the time selection wheel: “Did you mean to select 10 minutes, there?”

“Yeah, of course,” she responded, matter-of-factly. “That way, all the water cooks out, and the noodles get nice and soft. If you add the seasoning packet first, the flavour soaks in while it boils.” 

As a two-minute (or maybe three, if I get distracted) ramen-boiler, I was flabbergasted, but I decided after a few minutes that we could probably still be friends. Tolerance, after all, is crucial in such polarizing times as ours. 

At this point, the party was winding down, and the remaining guests were transitioning from tipsy to hungry. My friend’s ramen boiling—misguided as it may have been—set off something of a chain reaction. The smart thing to do would probably have been to boil a large pot of water and cook the packets all at once, but as it happened, a steady stream of people began preparing their own bowls of noodles, each one slightly different from the last. Whether it was boiling the water on the stove or using a kettle, cooking the noodles for two, three or four minutes (or, alas, 10…), adding vegetable bouillon or soy sauce or sriracha, or a host of other minor tweaks, everyone had their own routine—and everyone was convinced theirs was the best. 

While I was shuffling around the kitchen, avoiding the paths of these impromptu ramen chefs (it is, after all, impossible not to be in the way in a student’s kitchen), a whole world of instant ramen variations was revealed to me. I took on the role of observer, discovering details that had been lurking just beneath the surface, hidden in each of our solitary, late-night culinary pursuits. Instant ramen is the ultimate “meal of least resistance,” scarfed down at the kitchen counter between essays, or between parties. 

In his essay “Unzipping Mr. Rabbit,” Rob Percival writes about the way ultra-processed foods such as instant ramen disconnect us from traditional, tangible, and communal ways of preparing meals: “They are made for mindless consumption [….] We eat them alone or on the move. They are pre-prepared and pre-chewed.” 

Percival, in the end, decides to hunt and skin his own rabbits. While I don’t think my landlord would appreciate that, Percival’s ideas about taking time to physically prepare and give thanks for our food—and, crucially, to do this together—resonate with me. A well-planned soup can feed eight people for the cost of one UberEats delivery, and there’s no better place for a good conversation than over a simmering stew, with the snow falling outside and a cup of tea in your hand. 

Unfortunately, there’s no way to get around the fact that cooking takes money and time, and it is so easy to pay the 80 cents, take the five minutes, and eat in the dark, accompanied only by the glow of your half-written essay. 

In A Sand County Almanac, Wisconsin naturalist Aldo Leopold echoes Percival’s concern, writing, “There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other is that heat comes from the furnace.”

While I love Leopold, my midterm tomorrow morning precludes me from the noble labour of chopping my own firewood, and I fear that rent on a farm in the Plateau may be beyond my price range. The strange thing about our modern, industrialized context is that chopping your own firewood is a luxury, rather than a money-saving act of self-reliance. 

But I don’t think that’s the whole story: Cooking in community can drastically reduce the cost of groceries per person, while building bonds and strengthening social support networks at the same time. Three years of cooking for others in university has convinced me that it is not just an indulgence, but a necessary act of resistance in a society that pushes people to cook their instant noodles in three minutes, and eat them in two.

McGill, News

Some students fear financial impact of Quebec government decision to end Perspective Scholarships Program early

by Olivia Ardito on

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On Feb. 7, the Quebec government announced that it is ending its Quebec Perspective Scholarship Program (PBPQ) earlier than expected, with the winter 2025 semester being the last semester to accept new applicants. The program that Premier François Legault initiated in November 2021 gave bursaries of $1,500-$2,500 CAD to students studying in fields with labour shortages, such as engineering and information technology. While no new recipients will be awarded, current recipients will continue receiving the scholarship through to the end of their studies.

The decision came as a surprise to some as the scholarship fund was set to end in the Fall 2025, and there remains $1 billion CAD devoted to funding it. 

Richard Rassokhine, B.S. ‘24, was a recipient of a Perspective Scholarship during his studies at McGill. In a written statement to The Tribune, Rassokhine explained that financial challenges and the increasing cost of living in Montreal meant that the scholarship was crucial in paying for his degree.

“My mother earned very little and I didn’t take internships during the summer so I had essentially no income outside of what the [Student Financial Assistance] AFE gave me. The Perspective bursary took an important weight off my chest essentially,” wrote Rassokhine. “Had I not received the bursary, I would have scraped by in some way, either taking a personal loan from my bank or borrowing money from relatives.”

Rassokhine also noted that he believes there is a significant lack of information from the government and educational institutions about how to apply for funding, such as the Perspective Scholarship, adding to students’ financial difficulties.

The McGill Media Relations Office (MRO) wrote that while the government’s decision could have financial consequences for students, the university does not believe it will harm its international standing. 

“The elimination of student funding opportunities is never welcome news,” the MRO wrote. “Newly admitted students who can no longer try for PBPQ funding are encouraged to apply for Quebec’s government aid program. McGill also has need-based aid programs to supplement government aid.”

The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Vice-President External Hugo-Victor Solomon explained to The Tribune/ that he feels this is yet another recent instance of the government creating additional financial pressure for students, especially in light of recent tuition increases for out-of-province and international students. 

“To say we’re disappointed in the Ministry of Education is an understatement,” Solomon wrote. “This is another example of the Quebec government prioritizing austerity over accessibility at the expense of students, further reducing investment in education and student well-being.”

Solomon highlighted that funding cuts at the provincial level have ripple effects across the university system as a whole. He acknowledged “the frustration and uncertainty” that the government’s decision will bring, and encouraged students to email him with thoughts or concerns.

“I will also remain in contact with student leaders at other universities to coordinate a united response,” Solomon wrote. “This fight isn’t over. The government cannot continue balancing its budget on the backs of students, and we will push for better solutions.”

Features

Understanding Canada’s Record-breaking Wildfires in 2023

by K. Coco Zhang on

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What were the causes and consequences of our worst wildfire season to date?

Author: K. Coco Zhang

The 2023 wildfire season in Canada shattered records in both scale and intensity. Starting in Alberta during late spring, wildfires rapidly spread across Quebec, Nova Scotia, the Northwest Territories, and British Columbia over the summer, becoming one of the most devastating fire seasons in Canada’s history.

“The area burned was approximately 15 million hectares, which was by far the highest since accurate fire mapping and record-keeping began in 1972. In fact, the area burned in 2023 was over twice that of the previous record in 1989,” Piyush Jain, a research scientist at the Canadian Forest Service in Natural Resources Canada, said in an interview with //The Tribune//.

In total, about 6700 reported wildfire ignitions occurred in 2023, with 59 per cent of them believed to be caused by lightning strikes. 

“If lightning strikes occur near a fire, then it is likely to be assigned as a lightning-caused fire. If there’s no lightning, then the fire is presumed to be human-caused,” Jain explained. “Human-caused fires do not mean that they were intentionally lit. Most of them occur accidentally or through industrial agricultural activity on the landscape.”

Lightning-caused wildfires accounted for 93 per cent of the total area burned, with just four days—May 13, May 27, June 1, and July 5—responsible for 30 per cent of the total annual area burned. Although human-caused fires only made up 7 per cent of the area burned, they caused a disproportionately large number of evacuations and destruction of structures because they generally started close to populated areas.

Canada’s escalating wildfire crisis is driven by a combination of climate change, forest management practices, and expanding human settlements in fire-prone regions. These factors not only increase the likelihood and intensity of fires but also amplify their environmental, economic, and health-related consequences.

Climate Change and Its Impact on Wildfire Risk

Climate change is driving a fundamental shift in temperatures and atmospheric moisture levels, making Canadian forests more prone to frequent fires. 

According to Jain, climate change contributes to longer and more intense fire seasons by creating hotter and drier conditions, which increase the flammability of forests. Additionally, climate change has contributed to the spread of invasive species such as the pine beetle, which has destroyed vast areas of trees. The dead trees burn more easily since they’re drier, turning forests into readily ignitable fuel for wildfires. 

“Climate change significantly increased the likelihood of large-scale burn areas across most of Canada, and the likelihood was over twice as high in the east, such as Quebec, and southwest, such as British Columbia,” Jain noted.

Taken together, these changes in weather patterns and ecosystem dynamics suggest that wildfires will become a year-round threat, with municipalities facing increasingly severe fires, including those outside of traditional fire seasons. 

The Role of Forest Management and Urban Expansion

Alongside changing climate conditions, forest management practices have also contributed to wildfire risks. When they occur at normal levels, wildfires are actually beneficial for forest ecosystems. When trees like pines and spruces burn, they release seeds, return nutrients to the soil, and restart the cycle of forest growth. This natural process helps thin out the buildup of dry forest fuels, such as twigs, leaves, brush, trees, and deadwood. 

However, Canadian and American forest management has adopted fire exclusion—the practice of actively excluding any fire from a specific area—which has disrupted this cycle of smaller burns. As a result, when fires do occur, they burn with greater intensity and speed. 

Moreover, urban sprawl into the wildland-urban interface—areas on the outskirts of communities where urban development meets forested regions—has further increased wildfire risk. Placing homes and infrastructure directly next to natural vegetation creates more potential ignition points from human activity. This close proximity to wildlands increases the likelihood of wildfires impacting homes and communities, resulting in greater damage to property and lives when a fire does occur.

“There are numerous factors that are driving the migration of people into the wildland-urban interface, but a lot of it has to do with housing affordability,” said Clare Milliken, a McGill alumnus with a Masters of Urban Planning, in an interview with //The Tribune//. “Instead of building cities up in the middle, new housing is often built on the outskirts of these cities, where it tends to be more affordable.”

In addition to affordability, the appeal of living among nature and wildlife has driven people to these high-risk areas.

“People are drawn to living among wildlife and trails, particularly in Western Canada,” Milliken said. “The lifestyle is attractive to people.”

Despite the heightened wildfire risk in the wildland-urban interface, approximately 13 per cent of the Canadian population lived in the wildland-urban interface as of 2021. Efforts to limit this expansion often face resistance, driven by factors such as Canada’s ongoing housing crisis and the urgent demand for rapid housing development. 

Environmental and Health Impacts

Unlike low-intensity fires that may promote nutrient recycling in ecosystems, intense fires destroy soil quality and reduce its ability to retain water. This damage leads to long-term ecological problems and continues a vicious cycle where forested areas are even more susceptible to future fires. Moreover, wildfires can dramatically alter ecosystems, resulting in habitat loss for species such as the boreal woodland caribou. 

In terms of water security, wildfires alter natural water flow and damage aquatic habitats, leading to water contamination from excess nutrients, sediments, and heavy metals. This can pose challenges for water treatment facilities processing drinking water for safe human use. The increased load of contaminants can also overwhelm treatment plants, raising the risk of treatment failures. 

Furthermore, common post-fire events such as flash floods and debris flows can significantly affect water quality and infrastructure. In the long term, increased wildfire activity and extreme weather events may threaten the capacity of watersheds to consistently supply clean water to communities and ecosystems. 

On a global scale, the burning of biomass—a renewable energy source that comes from organic materials like plants and animals—during wildfires significantly contributes to atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, further exacerbating climate change.

“The amount of biomass burned was five times more than previously, and aboveground biomass that was burned is directly related to carbon emissions,” said Flavie Pelletier, a PhD student in McGill’s Department of Natural Resource Sciences, in an interview with //The Tribune//.

Notably, the wildfires of 2023 alone produced the highest carbon emissions on record for Canada, accounting for 23 per cent of the world’s total carbon emissions.

“Forests are basically reservoirs of carbon. Trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere as they grow, but they can also emit carbon, meaning the carbon that was stored in the tree is being released back into the atmosphere,” explained Brendan Byrne, a senior data scientist at Qube Technologies, in an interview with //The Tribune//. “Our study found that the amount of carbon emissions from the 2023 Canadian wildfire season was 647 teragrams, which was much higher than previous years.” 

These emissions are comparable to the total annual emissions of India—the third-largest contributor to global carbon emissions—and play a significant role in global warming, which in turn intensifies the risk of future wildfires, creating a positive feedback loop.

The health impacts of wildfires are equally concerning. Smoke from the fires, which can travel vast distances, led to hazardous air quality across Canada and beyond. In 2023, smoke from fires in Northern Quebec blanketed New York City, temporarily giving the city the worst air quality in the world.

“The summer of 2023 was very smoky. People across Canada experienced above-average levels of smoke, and this is particularly true in the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec, because of their proximity to the fires,” Jain said.

Vulnerable populations, including the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, face heightened risks. Additionally, poor air quality forces people to stay indoors, limiting outdoor activities. 

Beyond physical health, the emotional toll on individuals—especially those in Indigenous communities—has been profound. 

“The impact of wildfires on mental health is often overlooked. These fires have frequently caused mass evacuations. The highest amount of evacuations happens in Indigenous communities, which are usually remote. The psychosocial impact of having to be evacuated from your community almost yearly is a huge deal,” Milliken explained. “Because of the [extreme nature] of the events, emergency staff working in high-pressure situations also face a ton of burnout.”

Economic Impact

The national expenditure on wildland fire protection has surpassed $1 billion CAD annually for six of the past 10 years, with costs increasing by approximately $150 million CAD per decade since 1970. These costs cover direct response and recovery efforts, including property damage, evacuations, and suppression efforts, as well as indirect costs such as business closures and unemployment.

Individual wildfires can cause extensive damage, with some fires destroying hundreds or even thousands of buildings, leading to multi-billion-dollar costs in both direct and indirect damages. The 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire alone cost the Canadian government an estimated $9 billion CAD, making it the nation’s most expensive natural disaster and largest evacuation on record.

The Path Forward

Canada’s 2023 wildfire season starkly illustrates the challenges posed by climate change and urban sprawl, underscoring the urgent need for action to reduce the risk and impact of future wildfires.

“Climate models predict that fire weather in Canada will become more extreme,” Jain said. “However, this is highly variable. It does not mean every year will be worse than the last, but it does suggest a general upward trend in the frequency and intensity of fires on the landscape.”

Although we cannot prevent wildfires entirely, the key lies in better preparedness, enhanced response strategies, and long-term prevention efforts. One positive step forward is the Canadian government’s increased funding for initiatives directly related to wildfire management. Recent investments in fire detection technology, early warning systems, and firefighting equipment aim to improve response times and reduce long-term damage.

“Knowing what happens in almost real-time allows you to intervene sooner. If we know an area has burned, we can likely cut and salvage trees in areas of low burn severity [more promptly]. This is crucial for wildlife conservation purposes,” Pelletier said.

These investments in firefighting infrastructure are critical for both protecting communities and conserving the natural environment. 

However, the current home insurance system in high-risk areas is becoming increasingly unsustainable. As wildfires grow more frequent and severe, insurance premiums for homeowners in fire-prone regions are expected to rise sharply, making coverage unaffordable for many. Therefore, governments and insurers must explore innovative solutions, such as creating dedicated wildfire insurance funds or offering incentives for fire-resistant building practices, to ensure residents in high-risk areas are adequately protected without facing prohibitive costs. 

In addition to addressing immediate wildfire risks, Canada must rethink land-use policies, particularly in the wildland-urban interface. Sustainable urban planning can help limit the expansion of human settlements into fire-prone areas, reducing the exposure of homes and infrastructure to wildfires. Meanwhile, forest management strategies should focus on restoring the natural fire cycle, including prescribed burns—intentionally lit, small, controlled fires—to mitigate wildfire risks and reduce the intensity of future wildfires. 

While the path forward is challenging, it is clear that proactive measures, such as increased funding for wildfire infrastructure, rethinking insurance models, and adopting sustainable urban planning practices, are crucial in mitigating the long-term risks of wildfires. By taking these steps, Canada can better protect its communities, natural resources, and future generations from the devastating impacts of wildfires.

Montreal, News

Protestors march for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People

by Amelia H. Clark on

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Content warning: Mentions of murder and violence.

The Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal (NWSM) and Concordia’s Centre for Gender Advocacy (CGA) hosted the No More Lost Sisters march for the National Day of Awareness/Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit People (MMIWG2S+) on Feb. 14. Protestors walked in -10° C weather to raise awareness about the disproportionately high rates of violence committed against Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people, and the low conviction rates for their murderers. 

The march began at Cabot Square at 6 p.m. and ended at Place du Canada at around 8 p.m.. According to speaker Kevin Deer, the goal of this event was to inform onlookers of the historic and ongoing violence MMIWG2S+ people face in Canada, where Indigenous women are 16 times more likely to go missing than white women.

Before the march, activist Ellen Gabriel addressed the crowd, discussing the central role protests and demonstrations play in creating systemic change within Canada’s policing system. 

“To all the people who have lost loved ones because of racism, because of sexism, we are here to show our support to anyone that has experienced this type of violence,” Gabriel said. “If we don’t stand up and rise up against imperial fascists, we will lose our rights.” 

Gabriel has been a prominent advocate for over 30 years, acting as the Haudenosaunee’s spokesperson during the 1990 Kanesatake Resistance: A 78-day stand-off between Mohawk communities and the town of Oka, who sought to build a golf course on Indigenous burial grounds. 

At this march, Gabriel asked that the media and the Canadian government stop blaming murder victims for their deaths, criticizing the press for labelling missing women as “partiers.”

“Let’s bring to light this issue of violence that we all are responsible to fight against,“ Gabriel said. “I hope that one day, men will see that violence against women is not a woman’s issue, it’s a man’s issue.” 

(Armen Erzingatzian / The Tribune)

McGill’s Indigenous Student Alliance (ISA) also emphasized the responsibility of the media in pursuing justice in a written statement to The Tribune. 

“Our women aren’t only the targets of this violence at higher rates than the national average, but are sought out by organized crime and institutionalized networks,” the ISA wrote. “The media’s reluctance in connecting these organized networks (sex-trafficking) to the violence of Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people capacitates the way in which this violence is not only perceived by the settler state and its citizens, but also the way [justice evades] the deeply ingrained injustices that allow and promote this violence.” 

The ISA encouraged non-Indigenous McGill students to show their solidarity with MMIWG2S+ by supporting the Red Dress Alert initiative, which the federal government agreed to develop in May 2024. The Red Dress Alert is akin to an AMBER Alert system, pointing the public to the last known location and appearance of MMIWG2S+. 

(Armen Erzingatzian / The Tribune)

Mike Turner was also present at the march. His daughter, 24-year-old Chelsea Poorman, went missing in 2020. Despite her mother reporting Poorman as missing to authorities the next day, Turner reported that the police did not start investigating her disappearance until 10 days later. Police discovered parts of her body in 2022, but today, neither her killer nor the entirety of her remains have been found. Turner told The Tribune that the press has a duty to report on cases like Poorman’s, which go under-investigated and neglected by police due to the victim’s race. 

“The media’s role has been insignificant when it can be extremely significant,” Turner said. “Why can’t they run ads for missing people? […] There’s no reason why this isn’t front-page every single day. If that were the case, a lot more could change.”

When the march concluded at Place du Canada, Gabriel thanked the crowd for their participation on Valentine’s Day, and spoke about the integral role public protests play in raising awareness for MMIWG2S+ who are neglected by the Canadian government. 

“On Love Day, although this cause is heartbreaking, I have to say I’ve never seen so many people pour love back into the hearts of women,” Gabriel said. 

Football, Sports

Propelled by their defence, Eagles soar to victory in Super Bowl LIX

by Ethan Kahn on

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It is said that you either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become a villain. This is the situation the Kansas City Chiefs found themselves in leading up to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. Once a group led by a young, relatively unknown quarterback named Patrick Mahomes going up against the decades-long dynasty of the New England Patriots, the Chiefs now find themselves on the other end of the spectrum. That young quarterback is now a two-time league MVP, leading a team that has won three out of the past five championships. The Chiefs were the National Football League (NFL)’s version of Star Wars’ Galactic Empire—a powerful regime on a quest to conquer the league yet again. This year, Kansas City was trying to do something unprecedented: Win three Super Bowls in a row.  

In an era where the players’ lives off the field can take the forefront (especially star tight end Travis Kelce’s relationship with musical superstar Taylor Swift), the Chiefs’ regular season trudged along without much fanfare. While they won an American Football Conference (AFC)-best 15 games across the regular season, questions arose about their offence, as they never managed to score 30 or more points in a game. This problem was exacerbated against the Eagles’ number-one-ranked defence, who had given opposing offensive lineups problems throughout the year.  

Philadelphia had generated 1.9 turnovers per game in the 2024 regular season—a league-best— and its defence had only given up 278 yards per game in the 2024 regular season—33 yards fewer than the second-place Tennessee Titans. To put this in perspective, the gap between first and second in this statistic was as large as the gap between second and 23rd ranked teams. The Eagles also had a little extra motivation as Kansas City had bested them in Super Bowl LVII two years prior. The unstoppable force of the Chiefs and their dynastic power would meet the immovable object of Philadelphia’s staunch defence on Feb. 9 in New Orleans.

Fans expecting a back-and-forth battle much like the first Super Bowl meeting between the two squads were quickly corrected. From the outset of the game, the Kansas City offence seemed completely outmatched by the Eagles’ defence. Mahomes was sacked six times throughout the game, the highest total of his career. Amazingly, Philadelphia did not blitz a single time in the game. They were able to generate pressure on the quarterback through simple three- or four-man pass rush schemes. Mahomes also threw two picks, including a first-half pick-six to rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean (on his birthday no less), which made the score 17-0 and swung the momentum of the game decisively in the Eagles’ favour. Mahomes finished the first half with a career-low 33 yards and a paltry 43 per cent completion rate.

When Eagles quarterback and eventual Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts threw a 46-yard laser to DeVonta Smith for a touchdown to make it 34-0, the game was all but over. Two consolation touchdown catches from Chiefs rookie wideout Xavier Worthy, who finished with 157 yards, did nothing to sway the end result. The Eagles were so confident that they gave Head Coach Nick Sirianni a celebratory “Gatorade bath” with three minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs’ offensive problems, which had popped up throughout the regular season, emerged at the worst time possible. Their inability to move the ball down the field and generate points, coupled with their relative ineffectiveness on the defensive side, spelled disaster and the end of their hunt for a historic three-peat.  

The Eagles now face some big decisions to make in the offseason, as multiple key defensive players will be hitting the free agency market looking for the big payday they deserve, including defensive end Josh Sweat and linebacker Zack Baun. As the green and white confetti fell in New Orleans, however, this was the last thing on anyone’s mind. For now, the Eagles and their fans can revel in the fact that they are Super Bowl champions.

Behind the Bench, Sports

To all the sports I’ve loved before

by Jenna Payette, Zain Ahmed, Auxane Bussac, Mairin Burke on

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Jenna Payette, Contributor

Dear Ice Hockey,

“Anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”

This quote from Steve Prefontaine hung in my brother’s room growing up and became the silent force that subtly shaped me. As the baby of my family, I was pushed to challenge my limits and continuously raise my standards. The ice was the one place where I truly felt confident enough to do so.

You revealed a fire within me that can’t be extinguished. Years of being middle of the pack taught me to speak up and make my voice heard. Years of being trusted as a leader taught me that vulnerability is not a weakness. And the constant chirps I heard as the only girl? They built my resilience.

You’ve taught me that failure is simply feedback, discomfort is a sign of progress, and joy is the reward for perseverance.

I hope my younger self knew how much her life would change the moment she picked up that stick.

Eternally yours, 

Jenna

Zain Ahmed, Staff Writer

Dear Rugby,

They say love shapes you into something greater than yourself. You’ve done exactly that. From the moment I met you when I was 10, you saw past my (then) gangly height and unsuspecting build, and recognized potential I couldn’t see. You took me in, made my parents’ blood pressure soar week in and week out, and for a decade, you have remained constant.

Heartbreak came in my first year at McGill when I fell short of a shot at Varsity. But, like any great love, you emphasized that worthwhile things don’t come easy. The adversity made me fight for you and earn my place a year later as a rebranded player.

You have given me brothers in arms, loyal soldiers who stand beside me in those passionate and intense 80-minute battles—friendships for life. 

Through injury and triumph, you are my North Star. You have shaped me not just as an athlete, but as a human being. You have taught me that family isn’t just about blood—it’s about the people who stand with you in the scrum of life. Rugby, I will forever be indebted to you. The hooligan’s game played by gentlemen. 

With love, 

Zain

Auxane Bussac, Student Life Editor

Dear Swimming,

As a child, I dreamt of being the next Laure Manaudou. My dad grew up in water; you were his go-to sport. His mom and sister both swim competitively to this day, so you are a family affair. 

I was thrown in a pool at a young age during a “baby swimmers” class and kept on taking swimming lessons regularly until I was old enough to start competing on a team. I was proud of being a strong enough swimmer to impress my dad. 

But it all went downhill. After my first competition at 13, I was supposed to move to the higher-level group. During practice my new coach yelled at me for doing the crawl with my palms open, which slowed me down. He made a great point, but I was traumatized and quit. 

Spoiler alert: I won’t be the next Manaudou, but I miss you and sharing this passion with my dad. You were my first love and heartbreak but you taught me that giving up on something I love for fear of not being good enough is not an option anymore. Thank you.

Love, 

Auxane

Mairin Burke, News Editor

Dear Basketball,

My parents determined I was an anxious kid early on. Their solution? Put me in every available sport to distract me, from hockey to track to trampolining. But it was you alone that truly quieted my brain. Shooting a free throw or executing a pick and roll took a unique level of focus that crowded out all other thoughts. I was hooked.

But I grew to resent you in high school. Your three-hour evening practices full of wind sprints, and weekend tournaments spent in rural Ontario where there was nothing to do but roam around a local mall, took their toll. I’m ashamed to say I ended up ghosting you—the pandemic preventing practice-as-usual was just a convenient excuse.

In retrospect, you brought me peace worth foregoing any Saturday sleep-in for. I am forever grateful that you pushed me beyond my limits and introduced me to some of my dearest people. So take this as my apology. Maybe we can still be friends?

XOX,

Mairin

Student Life

Exploring a passion for music outside of the School of Music

by Jeanne Le Roux on

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McGill brings together a wide variety of students, each with unique passions and creative interests. While some choose to pursue their art through a Music degree, others take a more technical course of study and explore their creativity in their off-hours. While it can be hard to find time for yourself between all the essays and exams, these students shared how they found a way to explore their passion for music on campus.  

Brandon McLeod, U3 Engineering and a member of the rock and blues band One Dime Ride, opened up about his experience as bass guitarist, which started truly growing at McGill.  

“McGill provides opportunities through venues like the Blues Pub and Gerts, which are very open to hosting live bands [….] The Plumbers’ Band Room, where the Blues Pub takes place, allows students to use their equipment for free as long as it’s being used inside the room,” McLeod explained in a written statement to The Tribune. 

On a similar note, DJ and mixer Nina Baby, U2 Arts, expressed that although her passion for mixing began when she was younger, she only started performing at McGill. 

“My first gig ever was last year at Blues and I’ve mixed there multiple times since then,” she said. “It was really at McGill that I started, it really helped me and gave me so much visibility.”

She explained how she later played at Bar des Arts (BdA), Open Air Pub (OAP), and Gerts, making a bigger name for herself in the music scene. 

Apart from performance opportunities, McGill also has a large selection of classes in the Music Program for students seeking to deepen their knowledge. For students like Arian Meh, U2 Arts and member of the band Blufin, McGill’s classes allow him to have a consistent time, place, and opportunity to explore music. 

“University is so big and it’s easier to find like-minded people to share interests with [….] You can do a minor in Music or take electives in Music. McGill has plenty of systems in place to support a passion in music,” Meh said. 

Baby similarly elaborated on how she applied for a minor in Musical Application of Technology, which focuses on music production. 

“I hope to get in to be able to spend more time doing [music] and also spend time in studios and really learn how to do the production,” she said. 

However, it is not always easy to take on a Music minor if you are already pursuing an unrelated major program. Balancing daily responsibilities, living independently, having a social life, and doing schoolwork can easily get overwhelming. Some therefore find ways to reduce their academic workload. 

“I decided to take four classes instead of five this year, so I have more time to do it all,” Baby expressed. “It’s still a challenge. I’m trying to learn how to manage.” 


Hence, she advises other students pursuing music alongside another major at McGill to manage their time effectively.

“My advice for someone trying to accumulate experience at McGill would be planning ahead and well to gain time and prioritize what is important,” noted Baby. 

McGill offers an exceptional environment for artistically driven students looking to cultivate their creative passions while partaking in the academic world. Whether you are a band member, a photographer, or an aspiring journalist, the school’s various venues, classes, and student-run initiatives are great opportunities to grow and learn. 

“I play as many concerts and shows as I can; I write and record as much as I can,” Meh said. “School comes first, but it only lasts four years while a passion will stick all life.”

Montreal, News

Quebec rental tribunal recommends record rent rate increase

by Ella Paulin on

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On Jan. 21, Quebec’s Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) announced that its recommended rent increase rate for 2025 was 5.9 per cent for units that do not include paid heating, and between 4.1 and 5.5 per cent for units that include heating in the rent. While this recommended increase rate is not binding, it is a signal for both landlords and tenants of what is considered a reasonable rent hike. 

This year’s recommendation is the highest since 1988. It also represents a significant jump from 2024’s rate of 4 per cent and 2023’s rate of 2.3 per cent, although when tenants contest rent increases, the TAL often approves increases in excess of their recommendations. In 2024, the average rent adjustment granted by the TAL was 5.8 per cent. Daphne Sainte-Onge, an organizer for the tenant union Syndicat des locataires autonomes de Montréal (SLAM), commented on the difficulties these hikes can pose for tenants.

“The majority of tenants are not receiving raises, (cost of living or otherwise), that match these increases, so every year rent is eating away a bigger chunk of our earnings and landlords are taking more from our pockets as tenants,” Sainte-Onge wrote in an email to The Tribune. 

Sainte-Onge also noted that students are particularly vulnerable to exploitation by landlords through high rent increases, due to their high turnover rates and lack of collective organization. She emphasized the importance of speaking with one’s neighbours about rent prices and contesting unreasonable hikes. 

“Landlords often ask for unjustifiably high increases because they do not expect tenants to push back, but you have the right to refuse and to stay in your apartment,” Sainte-Onge wrote. “Negotiating collectively multiplies the power tenants have to fight back.”

Elliott Kalt, U2 Science, and his roommates were paying $3,000 CAD a month for a three-bedroom apartment in the Plateau, where one of the bedrooms did not have a window. When Kalt and his roommates decided not to renew their lease, the landlord listed the apartment for $3,300 CAD, a 10 per cent increase in just one year. 

“I think that my old apartment was already a bit expensive for what it was, but increasing the rent by $300 almost feels criminal,” Kalt wrote in a statement to The Tribune. 

While upper-year students navigate the housing market in broader Montreal, first-year students living in McGill residences are also considered tenants, signing leases with McGill for the duration of the academic year. While the Quiet Residences at the Downtown Campus and Laird Hall at Macdonald Campus offer prices per room from $585 to $985 CAD for some students, prices in residences range from $1,055 CAD to $1,780 CAD, with a regular single room in Royal Victoria College costing $1,610 CAD per month, and a double room in La Citadelle costing $1,545 CAD per month. 

These rents do not take into account the mandatory meal plan in most residence halls, which is currently $5,800 CAD for the year. In the Plateau, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,512 CAD; however, that price includes a bathroom and kitchen. 

As a landlord to thousands of students, McGill also makes decisions about rent increases year to year. The McGill Media Relations Office (MRO) commented on the factors the university takes into account when setting residence fees. 

“The Quebec Rental Tribunal’s rent increase rate provides a guideline for understanding the housing market, but it is not the main factor we consider when revising our fees,” the MRO wrote in an email to The Tribune. “More importantly, we take into account the overall cost of living in residence, the condition of each building, and if any recent upgrades and renovations have been done.”

The rent for McGill residences in the 2025-2026 academic year has not yet been finalized, but the MRO stated it would be announced in the next several weeks. 

With rent increases across Montreal, students are struggling to find suitable apartments for reasonable prices. 

“I’ve definitely seen pricing get worse over time, but the more annoying part of looking for a place is just finding a place that has windows in all rooms—something you would think is a normal standard,” Kalt wrote. “Overall, it feels like the quality of places has gone down while prices have increased.”

McGill Recommendations, Out on the Town, Student Life

Dollars and sense: The cheapest places to grab lunch near campus

by Bianca Tri on

More in McGill Recommendations:

While many students choose to meal-prep for the week, weekends often topple the best-laid plans of mice and men. We’ve all had the experience of arriving on campus Monday morning with an empty lunch box and a growling stomach. What are the best options to satiate your mid-day cravings on a budget? The Tribune took a walk around the neighbourhood to find meal deals within a 10-minute radius.

Free option: Midnight Kitchen

The Midnight Kitchen is a non-profit worker- and volunteer-run collective that serves free lunches in the University Centre, typically at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Their food is vegan and always includes a dessert, often made with produce grown in their community garden. You have to bring your own container and utensils if you want to pick up a meal, and remember to get there early as the services are limited.

$0-$5 CAD options: The Yellow Door, Japote, and McGill metro finds

The Yellow Door (3625 Aylmer Ave) is a non-profit whose mission is to reduce social isolation of vulnerable groups in downtown Montreal. They run the Rabbit Hole Lunch, offering vegan meals for under $5 CAD every Friday at 12:00 p.m.. Their mains typically cost $3 CAD, and $1 CAD for dessert. You are encouraged to bring your own containers, but can also use their plates and utensils (which you have to wash afterwards). The service is cash-only, and you can dine in their basement.

Japote is a family-owned fast food restaurant located on the concourse level of 1000 Rue Sherbrooke O. You can grab a homestyle curry there for the small price of $6 CAD. Remember to bring lunch money, because it’s cash only, and to prepare for a wait. 

Along the same line, Lee N Kim (located inside of the McGill metro station) and Marché Eden (3575 Parc Ave) both sell onigiri at around $4 CAD a piece. These balls of rice wrapped in seaweed are filling snacks, sure to keep you going through a long day. Also located inside the McGill metro is Pizza Soleil, where you can get a beef patty and a drink for under $5 CAD.

$5-$10 CAD eats: Vinh’s Café, McGill Pizza, Opiano, G-Store

Vinh’s Café (Genome Building and Strathcona Music Building) offers Vietnamese food, with their classic bánh mì for about $8 CAD.

McGill Pizza (625 Rue Milton) is permanently part of the McGill gastronomic canon. Don’t let their expensive main plates fool you—their two-slice combo of pizza goes for $8.75 CAD, perfect for a light lunch. Or, you can get one slice with a side of fries, for $8.50 CAD. 

Opiano (1115 Rue Sherbrooke O) is located where the famous Super Sandwich used to be.  This Korean spot offers kimbap from $6.50-$8 CAD, depending on whether you choose a tuna, beef, or regular roll. They also sell eight fried dumplings for $9 CAD. If you’re more in the $10-$15 CAD range, their curry plates are a good bang for your buck, typically including two pieces of fried meat, rice, salad, and a miso soup.

If you’re looking for a quick bite without leaving campus, G Store in McConnell is your spot for lunch on the go. They sell wraps for $6 CAD, though these can sell out during the day if you don’t buy one early. The wraps are from Ô Four, a Lebanese restaurant and bakery located on Avenue du Parc.

A satiating meal for $10-$15 CAD: Nouilles Zhonghua

Nouilles Zhonghua (908 Rue Sherbrooke O) is an excellent spot for a filling bowl of noodles. A small bowl of their beef special is $14.99 CAD, though you can grab their small combos such as their cold noodles with a Chinese hamburger for around $12 CAD (or, you can just get a Chinese hamburger for about $7 CAD).

Next time you’re feeling snackish, just remember that there are many options around! Lunch on campus does not have to cost you $20 CAD—it doesn’t even have to cost you $5. Just remember to bring cash wherever you go, and support these local spots to ensure students have accessible eats in the future.

Student Life

TEDxMcGill makes waves by celebrating ripples

by Ella Paulin on

More in Student Life:

TEDxMcGill brought together seven speakers and two performances by McGill students at their annual conference on Feb 9. TEDx events are similar to TED Talks, except that they are independently organized all over the world by community groups who have obtained a free license from TED to use their name and format. In turn, all of the speeches are uploaded to a centralized TEDxTalks library. 

“I really love [TEDx’s] international community,” Katherine Squitieri, U3 Arts and Chair of TEDxMcGill said in an interview with The Tribune. “It’s a super strong network of people. You’re constantly in contact with other TEDx leaders, attendees, and members. I think it’s really inspiring to be able to see that so many people are working towards the same goal throughout the world.”

This year’s event featured lectures on a variety of topics, from equality in healthcare, to community-based AI literacy, to reflections on working with cancer patients in an oncology ward. The morning session ended with a performance by McGill’s Soulstice acappella group, and the afternoon kicked off with a dance number from United Groove. 

“I hope that people will be inspired to learn more and explore more opportunities to connect with topics that maybe they don’t hear about as much,” Squitieri told The Tribune. “I think that’s the beauty of TEDx: The variety in talks and being able to get snapshots of things that people are so passionate about.”

The organizers for this year’s TEDxMcGill event asked presenters to incorporate the idea of “ripples” into their talks as a guiding conceptual thread, although it was left to individual speakers to interpret the theme as they wanted. 

“Ripples are a reminder that even small actions matter, often in the largest ways,” Mikalah Martindale, U1 Arts and VP Communications of TEDxMcGill, said in her opening remarks. “Our speakers today have carefully curated both ideas and stories to share with all of you of ripple effects in their lives, from comedy to human connection.”

Charlotte Spruzen, a PhD candidate at McGill whose presentation focused on a geological response to climate change denialism, began her talk with a very literal reference to the conference theme. As it turns out, physical ripples appear in various materials and along different time scales in the geological record. 

“Modern ripples are everywhere [….] You can also find them in rivers, desert sands and lakes,” Spruzen said in her talk. “Ripples are fundamentally transient structures; ripples you see on the beach today will not be the same as the ripples you see the beach tomorrow, and that makes it, in my opinion, mind-blowing that the same structures of ripples can be preserved in rock for billions of years.”

Spruzen went on to describe how climate change deniers misconstrue evidence from the geological record—such as the fact that there have been large spikes in global temperature in the past—and she carefully demonstrated how those claims draw invalid conclusions from valid data. 

Coming from a different angle, Michael Zegarelli, Vice-President of Project Management at Colliers Project Leaders, spoke about the wide-reaching ripple effects that can result from seemingly small changes to city design, such as improving parks, infrastructure, and gathering places. Charlie Scholey, U3 Engineering, took yet another perspective, talking about the positive impacts that comedy can have on people. 

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that everyone has the ability to be funny. Everyone has a sense of humour,” Scholey said in his discussion. “They just need the tools to use it, and then they have to want to use those tools.”

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