Latest News

a, McGill, News, SSMU

SSMU Council reviews budget, hears address from Principal Fortier

by Lauren Wildgoose on

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The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU)  Council met on Thursday to review executive reports from the past semester, including the SSMU budget, and to discuss the implementation of interim election regulations for this semester.

Address by Principal Suzanne Fortier

Principal Suzanne Fortier made an appearance at the meeting, giving a year-in-review speech in which she highlighted McGill’s Arts Research Internship Awards and other accomplishments. Principal Fortier then stood for questions from Council,  fielding concerns expressed by students on issues of tuition and financial accessibility.

In response to a question from Vice-President External Affairs Amina Moustaqim-Barrette regarding McGill’s risk of becoming an elitist university in terms of financial accessibility, Fortier cited the bursary fund.

“McGill is an elitist university in terms of academic achievement,” Fortier said. “[It] is able to attract very good students because it has the top bursary program in Canada in terms of money per student. If I were to talk about what makes a good university […] it’s the ability to attract students not on the basis of what they can pay, but on the basis of their academic achievements.”

Motion to pass interim election regulations

The Council passed a motion to implement interim provisions regarding the SSMU Nominating Committee and online ratification of General Assembly resolutions. The new Nominating Committee will consist of four councillors and four members at large, and the committee Chair will be appointed by the SSMU general manager rather than the president.

These interim provisions aim to adhere to a less executive-centred model, increasing the committee’s objectivity.

“In the previous Nominating Committee, all of the executives were members, along with three councillors,” Vice-President University Affairs Claire Stewart-Kanigan said. “These positions are supposed to be very distanced from SSMU, given that they’re elections and judicial board justices, so we spent a lot of time talking about how we can make this more distanced from the executives to avoid potential conflicts of interest and increase the objectivity of these bodies.”

Stewart-Kanigan said the changes may be a larger part of a reform in Elections SSMU.

“This could potentially be part of a shift toward moving Elections SSMU from the presidential portfolio into the general manager portfolio to increase the objectivity of this process,” Stewart-Kanigan said.

Report on last semester’s budget

In a review of SSMU’s budget, expenses, and investment portfolio from last semester, Vice-President Finance and Operations Kathleen Bradley noted that Gerts ran a deficit of $25,724. Bradley said she was unconcerned, explaining that these numbers were nothing out of the ordinary compared to previous years. The Nest ran a deficit of $27,210. She attributing the low sales at both venues to the construction on McTavish.

“Food sales are down pretty substantially at The Nest, but I’m happy to report that costs of sales are well controlled, and salaries and benefits have been addressed,” Bradley said. “That was the primary failing of last year’s budget.”

Overall, sales at both Gerts and The Nest were better than projected in the budget, and SSMU operations differed from its projected budget by  $10,000.

Announcement of new SSMU General Manager

President Courtney Ayukawa announced the hiring of the new SSMU General Manager, who will begin transitioning into their new role in early February.

“The General Manager was selected based on a number of factors,” Ayukawa said. “She needed to have a great diversity of previous experience. It’s really hard to find someone who can do marketing, daycare, student development, budgeting, and human resources—it’s a pretty diverse portfolio.”

a, Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Reality TV we’d like to see

by Max Berger & Morgan Alexander on

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One of the lesser known shows that debuted this month is Framework, Spike’s latest reality TV offering that pits “elite furniture craftsmen” against each other in a competition hosted by—wait for it—acclaimed hip-hop artist, Common. (more…)

a, Student Life, Student of the Week

Student of the Week: Jana Sauma

by Meghan Collie on

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Women’s rights have come a long way, but there are still improvements to be made in issues related to gender equality, particularly in the workplace. According to Jana Sauma, a U3 Management student who is about to complete her degree in marketing, she experiences this reality everyday.

Sauma is inspired by the delicate balance between creativity and statistics that marketing requires, and hopes to enter the professional world of advertising and branding. Jana is the VP Finance for McGill Women in Leadership (MWIL) and is dedicated to empowering young women to enter into the professional world confident and prepared. As VP Finance, Sauma is responsible for working closely with the fundraising and sponsorship teams to ensure that all of MWIL’s events go smoothly.  

Originally from Lebanon, Sauma has lived in many places, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and most recently, Ottawa. Her experiences abroad have shown her that women in Canada are extremely lucky to live in a part of the world where women in the workplace are often welcomed and professionally valued. However, she recognizes that there are still many stigmas faced by women in Canadian business everyday.

Sauma became involved with MWIL when she met some executive members at the 2014 TedX Women in Montreal, and she joined MWIL because it aims to inspire, enlighten, and liberate women of the McGill community to reach their goals.

“We sometimes lack the exposure to women like us who are succeeding in the areas that we would like to pursue,” Sauma said. “MWIL is determined to make young women aware of their skills and aware of the women before them who have been successful.”

Sauma believes that personal worth is an especially important realization women need to have before entering the workforce.

The work place can be competitive, stigmatized against women, and even sexist. Sauma believes that analyzing successul females can help females today recognize the potential skill sets they can bring to the table

“To become empowered, we need to be aware of the skills we share with the women who have come before us,” she said.

Sauma addressed the intimidation that women can sometimes experience in male-dominated environments.

“Be true to yourself, and don’t worry about standing out just because you’re a woman,” Sauma said. “Continue to push yourself and believe in yourself. Don’t be scared of being aggressive or loud in class. If that’s what you need to do to be heard, do it.”  

What is your favourite place to study?

Redpath, because [the Law library] is too far.

If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?

Maya Angelou or Beyoncé.

What are your top three pizza toppings?

Arugula, mushrooms, and goat cheese.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

When people drag their feet.

If you had to listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?

‘Circles’ by Passenger.

a, Editorial, Opinion

Editorial: Anonymous’ attacks ill-suited to address homelessness in Montreal

by McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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In the midst of plummeting temperatures, the Montreal police used bulldozers on Jan. 7 to clear out belongings from a homeless encampment at Viger Square. The police justified this action by asserting that the encampment posed a public health risk, and that it was too cold for the homeless to sleep outside. They hoped that removing the homeless peoples’ belongings and bringing them to a shelter would encourage the homeless to retrieve their possessions at the shelter and remain indoors for the winter.

While this is not the first time the Service de Police de la Ville de Montreal (SPVM) has cleared out this area, the incident two weeks ago gained particular attention because the hacker group Anonymous recently spoke out against the Montreal police. Anonymous committed to occupying the square until the City of Montreal agreed to enforce a moratorium on raids of homeless encampments from Dec. 1 to March 1. In addition, as a response to the police’s action, which it deemed as “heartless”, Anonymous has threatened to “attack the cyber infrastructure of the City of Montreal and other entities as [they] see fit,” an action Anonymous is known to take in opposition to groups or organizations. So far, the group has executed one distributed denial of service (DDoS) against the SPVM, and has occupied the square for a short period of time.

Anonymous had stated in an interview with one of its members that it would set up a sanctuary for homeless people in Montreal, where it would provide basic comforts such as hot meals. So far, however, there is no evidence that Anonymous has provided any substantial services.

Anonymous’ campaign in Montreal is part of its larger movement, known as Operation Safe Winter, which seeks to “highlight the homeless situation in areas throughout the world.” Highlight it they have, but their actions are not a proactive step towards solving the homeless situation, nor is its particular brand of activism anything more than glorified trolling.

Anonymous used the police as a
scapegoat, framing the SPVM as heartless and insensitive in order to
sensationalize the incident.

The police have used bulldozers to clear Viger Square on multiple occasions before, but the most recent incident was not publicized until Anonymous targeted the SPVM. On one hand, Anonymous did achieve its goal of highlighting the homeless situation–there was little public outcry regarding the situation at Viger Square until Anonymous brought it to light. On the other hand, Anonymous used the police as a scapegoat, framing the SPVM as heartless and insensitive in order to sensationalize the incident. If Anonymous was going to reprimand anybody, it should have been the city, who is to blame for the lack of adequate resources to keep Montreal’s homeless population out of the cold. The fact that the area has been cleared many times before this incident highlights that there is a broader underlying problem facing the homeless in Montreal. Many homeless continue to return to their camp outdoors instead of seeking refuge in shelters, suggesting that the shelters available in Montreal are either too few, too understaffed, or too unsafe for many to find refuge in. It is the responsibility of the city, not the police, to ensure that there are open and safe shelters for the homeless to go to. Therefore, attacking the police was emblematic of Anonymous’ brand of ‘yellow-journalism’ activism that seeks to point fingers and to antagonistically attack institutions or individuals, rather than promoting conversations about the systemic problem truly at hand.

Anonymous’ disruptive online attacks delegitimize its actions and reinforce its image as a group of ornery internet trolls. Nevertheless, it is admittedly effective at raising awareness and galvanizing the public through its inflammatory discourse. However, Anonymous’ aggressive finger-pointing and attacks do not encourage solutions. There are much more complex financial and structural problems at hand, which will not be addressed if they keep playing the blame game.

a, Football, Sports

2014 NFL regular season awards

by Aaron Rose on

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Most Valuable Player: Aaron Rodgers

Runner up: J.J. Watt, Tony Romo, and Antonio Brown

Rodgers is the best quarterback in the league, and by the time he retires, he just might be the best quarterback ever. After starting the season 1-2, Rodgers put on a quarterback clinic to finish the season on an 11-2 run. With the division championship and a first-round bye on the line, Rodgers hobbled and wobbled past the Lions, passing for 133 yards and three scores on a strained calf. Without Rodgers, the Packers gave up 14-points unanswered—once their all-pro quarterback returned, the Packers outscored the Lions 16-6. If that’s not MVP material, I don’t know what is.

Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt

Runner up: Justin Houston, Mario Williams, and Vontae Davis

J.J. Watt’s 2014 campaign was one for the ages. Watt’s 20.5 sacks was second best in the league, tying the mark set by Lawrence Taylor in his 1986 MVP season. He was a menace for all opposing offensive lines, deflecting 10 passes at the line of scrimmage and leading the league in both quarterback hits and quarterback hurries. He caused a safety, blocked a field goal, forced five fumbles, intercepted a pass, and scored three offensive touchdowns and two more on defence. There wasn’t much Watt didn’t do, and if the Texans made the playoffs he’d be square in the middle of the MVP discussion, too.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: C.J. Mosley

Runner up: Aaron Donald, Khalil Mack, and Anthony Barr

C.J. Mosley flies around the Ravens defence in a way reminiscent of his predecessor, Ray Lewis. While Aaron Donald’s rookie year was more than impressive, Mosley helped spring his team into the playoffs as the leader of the vaunted Ravens defence. He was one of only two defensive rookies to make the Pro Bowl, and the Alabama product finished the season first among rookies in all meaningful linebacker statistics.

Offensive Player of the Year: DeMarco Murray

Runner up: Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, and Rob Gronkowski

Since this award can’t go to the entire Dallas Cowboys offensive line, the 2014 offensive Player of the Year award has to go to the man who runs behind the league’s top O-line. DeMarco Murray ran for 100+ yards in 12 of 16 games this season, leading the league with 1,845 yards on the ground. While the fourth-year back finished just shy of the double-century mark, he smashed Emmitt Smith’s 1995 Cowboys rushing record, and will no doubt take home the Cowboys’ first ever Offensive Player of the year award.

Offensive Rookie-of-the-Year: Odell Beckham Jr.

Runner up: Jeremy Hill, Mike Evans, and Kelvin Benjamin

2014 was the year of the rookie wide receiver, and while Mike Evans and Kelvin Benjamin were busy putting up impressive numbers, nobody wowed fans like Odell Beckham Jr. After missing the first four games of the season with a hamstring injury, Beckham Jr. busted onto the scene, averaging a league-leading 108.8 yards per game. His highlight reel catches became a weekly staple, but his Week 12, over the shoulder touchdown snag against the Cowboys will go down in history as one of the greatest catches of all time.

Coach-of-the-Year: Bill Belichick

Runner up: Bruce Arians, Jason Garrett, and Pete Carroll

Belichick is the best coach in the league and easily one of the best coaches ever. While Bruce Arians and Jason Garrett turned their mediocre squads into serious playoff threats, Bill Belichick continually turns no-names into stars. Ever heard of Jonas Gray? Probably not before his Week 11, 200-yard game. Just as quickly as Gray appeared, he was gone—giving way to LeGarrette Blount and his two-touchdown game, just one week after Belichick picked him up from the Steelers. The only reason he won’t win Coach-of-the-Year is because it’s almost become too blasé to say he’s the best coach in the league.

a, McGill, News

AUS council hosts Fortier during first meeting of the year

by Audrey Carleton on

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The Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) hosted Principal Suzanne Fortier as a guest speaker at its council meeting on Jan. 14. Fortier expressed her satisfaction with McGill’s prestige as a university and spoke to the role of teamwork and collaboration in continuing to improve McGill.

“A great university is something we build together,” Fortier said.  “Our responsibility is to continue in adding to a very strong foundation [….] We do that by looking critically at ourselves [and] looking at where we can improve.”

AUS councillors and gallery members asked Fortier several questions, many of which were about the regulation of SNAX, a student-run snack shop regulated by the AUS that sells out of Leacock. As it stands, the AUS Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with McGill University does not permit SNAX to sell sandwiches and “prepared foods” to students. Arts Senator Jacob Greenspon compared SNAX with other on-campus food distributors such as Premiere Moisson. 

“You mentioned the positive fair trade characteristics of Premiere Moisson […] but AUS SNAX also sells fair trade products,” Greenspon argued. “Why does it seem that McGill would […] support some fair trade initiatives but not others, particularly when the latter, SNAX, offers financially accessible items to students?” 

In response to this question, Deputy Provost (Student Life & Engagement) Ollivier Dyens suggested that SNAX enter into a business contract with McGill, just as Premiere Moisson has. As Dyens explained, McGill’s hesitation with SNAX lies in issues of liability and student safety.

“There’s an issue of liability [and] responsibility,” Dyens said. “As you know we’re very very conscious about food safety. If somebody gets sick while going to SNAX, people aren’t going to go after SNAX or AUS, they’re going to go after McGill […] and it’s going to have ramifications for the university.”

Several representatives from SNAX were present at the council meeting, prepared to address the university’s concerns about liability. 

“[SNAX is] taking quite a few steps at this time to ensure that we aren’t a liability,” explained Emma Meldrum, assistant manager at SNAX. “We’re getting our employees health certified, we have forms from the government that say that we are safe, we had a safe health inspection last semester, and all of our suppliers are certified as well with the government of Quebec. And furthermore, we are insured under the AUS.”

AUS Council reaches decision regarding VP Internal responsibilities

Since the announcement of leave of absence of former AUS VP Internal Roma Nadeem due to physical illness at the beginning of the year, the AUS council has been forced to reach a decision regarding how to cover the administrative duties of this role.  At Wednesday’s meeting, AUS President Ava Liu announced her decision to leave the position open while hiring someone outside the AUS executive to fill the new role of Internal Administrator.

The council floor was then opened up to discussion for whether or not to appoint a member of council to the position of VP Internal, and if so, whom. 

“We’ll be hiring someone who is a student at McGill, probably in the Faculty of Arts, to work directly under my supervision,” Liu explained.  “This person would just come in for a few hours a week to do room bookings and liquor permits.”

Liu continued to explain that this administrative position would be working few enough hours that the AUS would have room in its budget to pay him or her a stipend.

The AUS council ultimately decided that no motion was needed to finalize this decision, as a replacement will not be selected for the VP Internal position, through other means were needed to fulfil the administrative duties.

“The other tasks in Roma’s portfolio that pertain to representation will be filled by the other members of the Executive,” Liu detailed.

AUS Council discusses potential draft for new Memorandum of Agreement

AUS VP Academic, Erin Sobat, presented to Council a draft of a new Memorandum of Agreement (MoA)—a legal document that outlines AUS’s relationship and obligations to McGill University as an accredited student association. Last renewed in 2010, the document is renewed every five years.

In describing the new MoA, Sobat also outlined the association fees that McGill owes the AUS, which students pay the university along with their tuition.  These fees help cover the operating expenses of the AUS and fund services and activities provided to students, such as Bar des Arts and the AUS Essay Centre.

The updated MoA proposes a significant increase in the annual administrative fee schedule, which McGill charges to collect AUS association fees. The current proposed association fee schedule incurs increases in the amount of money McGill receives from the AUS.

“We don’t have any rent fees [from] McGill for our space, but we do have administrative fees,” Sobat explained. “So it’s not that those aren’t numbers that we can’t afford, but [McGill is] definitely looking to us as a source of revenue.”

The updated MoA does not make any major changes regarding SNAX, although the snack shop will incur rent increases for its real estate.

“[Rent] was going up a dollar per year, so really what we expected was for it to keep going up a dollar per year,” Sobat noted. “It’s a pretty high rate of inflation, but […] if you want to think about McGill as a real estate market, it is at a premium, and SNAX can afford it.”

The current terms for SNAX in the MoA, which restrict the store from selling “any kind of processed or prepared food, such as sandwiches,” have not changed in the updated MoA.

a, Arts & Entertainment

Album Review: Until the Ribbon Breaks – A Lesson Unlearnt

by Melanie Chan on

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For all those desiring alternative, experimental—and somewhat uneven—electronic music, look no further than British trio Until the Ribbon Breaks’ (UTRB) debut album, A Lesson Unlearnt.

(more…)

a, Arts & Entertainment, Music

Diss Tracks Outside of Rap

by Oren Lefkowitz on

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How Do You Sleep?
Artist: John Lennon
Target: Paul McCartney
Album: Imagine
Released: September 9, 1971

Although Lennon denied the song’s malicious intent several years later, there is little doubt that in the context of 1971, “How Do You Sleep?” was a cold-blooded verbal attack on the former Beatle’s ex-partner-in-crime, Sir Paul McCartney. The feud was allegedly sparked by—along with a lifetime of diverging personalities—the release of “Too Many People,” a track off of McCartney’s second solo album where the pretty-boy Beatle admittedly dedicated a couple lines to disparaging Lennon’s growing activity as a public preacher. Not only does Lennon call out McCartney for being a has-been, but he references two of McCartney’s tracks, “Yesterday,” one of the Beatles’ most beloved songs, and “Another Day,” a hit song McCartney had just scored that hasn’t quite stood the test of time.

Sweet Home Alabama
Artist: Lynyrd Skynyrd
Target: Neil Young
Album: Second Helping
Released: June 24, 1974

For a rock band from the American South in the early ’70s grown numb to demonization from the Northern part of the country, the last thing Lynyrd Skynyrd would’ve wanted to hear was condemnation from foreigners, too. It must have really gotten under the band’s skin when rock music’s favourite Canadian, Neil Young, named a melancholy protest song off his seminal album Harvest after Lynyrd Skynyrd’s home state, Alabama. The band struck back with a joyful, patriotic Heart of Dixie celebration. However, needled into this sanctimonious joy-ride of Southern pride are these lines: “Well I heard Mister Young sing about us/ Well I heard Old Neil put her down/ Well I hope Neil Young will remember/ A Southern Man don’t need him around anyhow!”

Obsessed
Artist: Mariah Carey
Target: Eminem
Album: Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel
Released: June 16, 2009

If there’s anything we’ve learned from seeing 8 Mile, it’s that you don’t want to get into any sort of rap beef with Eminem. Perhaps Mariah Carey hasn’t seen the iconic film, because in 2009, she released this song. “Obsessed”, co-written by Tricky Stewart and The-Dream, is a disdainful call-to-arms against rapper Eminem, and it’s pretty powerful. After an on-track and off-track back-and-forth about whether Carey and Mathers ever had sex (he says they did, she says they didn’t), Mariah decided to set the record straight: “Why you so obsessed with me?/ Boy I wanna know/ Lying that you’re sexin’ me/ when everybody knows/ it’s clear that you’re upset with me.”

F*ck You
Artist: Lily Allen
Target: George W. Bush
Album: It’s Not Me, It’s You
Released: July 10, 2009

Not to be confused with the apolitical Cee-Lo Green song of the same name, this is the only entry on our list that calls out a world leader rather than a fellow artist. Although Lily Allen is a born-and-raised Brit, it’s clear that American politics (and American influence) is an area of interest and frustration for the songwriter. From gay rights to race issues to the War in Iraq—in Allen’s opinion, George Bush dropped the ball. Released six months after Obama’s inauguration, this farewell note to the controversial former President is scathing and personal.

a, Opinion

Commentary: On the path towards equal access to education

by Cecile Richetta on

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Earlier this month, The White House released a short video on its Facebook and Twitter pages in which President Barack Obama made a proposal to make community college free for two years of each students’ education. As long as students attend half of the required classes and maintain a 2.5 GPA, they would not have to pay for tuition. His proposal raises important questions regarding the role of the state versus the role of individuals in bearing the cost of education. But, more generally, the proposal would promote greater equality of opportunity in a society stratified along income lines.
The proposal states that the costs of two years in a community college should be shared between the state (25 per cent of the expenses) and the federal government (75 per cent of the expenses). More precisely, it would mean that each student would save up to $3,347, the average cost of two years at community college. Although this amount of money may seem rather small compared to the price of other universities, it would make a significant difference for middle-income and low-income students. Many students in the U.S. graduate with large amounts of debt. Moreover, some students cannot even afford a federal loan. These young people usually register for part-time education in order to be able to also have a job and pay for their education expenses. The proposal would eliminate the need for student loans for community colleges, and would also allow students to attend college full-time. But, more importantly, free education means equality of opportunity. A degree can lead to a better job, better life prospects and possible upward social mobility. Obama himself qualified community colleges as “essential pathways to middle-class,” notably thanks to their flexibility for people who want to improve their education and skills, but have neither the money nor the time to spend on a four-year program at university. Ultimately, making community college free would start to bridge the gap in the education provision and provide a remedy to the growing economic and racial stratification in higher education. Although some journalists, such as Michelle Weis of The Wall Street Journal, argue that this plan is a “dead-end” for improving the overall future prospects of students, this proposal will at least make a difference for middle-class students who will largely benefit from state funding.
Education reform seems to be on the agenda of many governments recently; Obama’s proposal is only one of several policies that we have heard of in the news. On one side of the spectrum, Germany made the huge decision in October 2014 to make education free for all, including international students. Although this shift may seem enormous by North American standards, it is important to remember that Germany was already on that path with a culture of affordable education, and is now part of larger group of European countries with free education. On the other hand, Quebec recently decided to raise tuition fees for French students who previously paid the same amount as Quebec students, displacing the burden of education to students instead of the government. More generally, all these policies fit into the debate about whether taxpayers as a whole, or the individuals themselves, should pay for education. Obama’s proposal is situated on the end of the spectrum, shyly following Germany’s giant steps, and trying to reach to taxpayers’ altruism civic responsibility. As one advocate for public university said, the private university system is “an incomprehensible repudiation of the whole philosophy of a successful democracy premised upon an educated citizenry.” When people do not have the same opportunities, they do not have the same potential to achieve the “American Dream.”

a, Chill Thrills, Student Life

Chill Thrills: Cozy spots to relieve your freeze

by Keah Hansen on

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January is an exciting time of the year with new classes and a plethora of winter activities to distract you on the weekends.  However, as the mercury keeps dipping, sometimes it’s best to forgo wintery gusts and venture into a cozy restaurant to catch up with friends over a comforting meal. Try out these three local joints that serve hot and delicious meals to keep you fuelled and toasty all winter long.

Rockaberry’s

Rockaberry’s first opened in 1989, and has become an iconic Montreal institution. The decor is casual and vaguely Italian. Meal options include regular North American fare such as salads, wraps and pasta dishes. Extensive coffee options are also provided. However, the main attraction however is the pies, which are baked fresh daily. There are over 25 varieties of these pies, with one sure to delight every customer. Options range from the conventional to the unique, and include millefeuille, lemon meringue, strawberry shortcake, apple crumb cheese, and blueberry. A slice of the apple crumb is huge, with many layers of soft apples entrenched in a thick golden crust. For $2, a large scoop of vanilla ice cream is added, pooling into a rich liquid as it melts against the warm slice. The pie was a meal in itself, and a steal for only $6.50.  There are seven Rockaberry locations around Montreal. Those nearest to McGill include the St Denis and Atwater locations.

Le Vieux St Laurent

Le Vieux St Laurent fits the description of a “greasy spoon” diner on St Laurent. Its exterior is unassuming, while the interior atmosphere has a typical diner vibe with wooden furnishings and a ’70s-style breakfast bar. Ducking into the restaurant after the hustle and bustle of the streets feels like a time-travel back to simpler days, when restaurant patrons knew your name and chatted while refilling your coffee mug. It is an excellent option for brunch, with breakfast served until 4 p.m. everyday. Most meals ring in at under $10, creating an affordable option for students. Coffee is included with most meals, and includes the perks of free refills. Food options include typical diner meals with eggs, sausages, hash-browns, and liberal offerings of toast and fruit to accompany most meals. The menu provides many healthy options, such as the vegetarian omelette was large and satisfactory, stuffed to the brim with minced vegetables. Considering the steady flow of customers, service was also quick and friendly.

Cacao 70

Cacao 70 is the new kid on the Parc Avenue, and is the third location of the franchise in Montreal. The restaurant fills up on weekends, so be sure to make reservations. The decor is relaxing, with warm track lighting and wooden panelling. The more upscale atmosphere and meals equate to a slightly pricier menu, with most meals ranging from $12 to $16. Savoury options include salted crepes, pressed crepe sandwiches, and inventive frittatas. The indulgent chocolate offerings of Cacao 70 are in keeping with the other rich staples of Montreal such as poutine and bagels. Several highlights of the menu include crepes and waffles, which are drenched in chocolate and topped with berries, marshmallows, and whipped cream. The classic chocolate fondue includes a cup full of succulent melted chocolate—with choices between dark, semi-sweet, milk or white—and bite-sized pieces of chewy brownie, golden waffle, and fresh strawberries and bananas for dipping. Cacao 70 is a great choice for a celebratory meal, or the occasional treat of a chocolate dinner.

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