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a, News

Court denies McGill request for discretionary power over ATIs

by Emma Windfeld on

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The Commission d’accès à l’information has ruled against granting McGill the discretionary power to deny Access to Information (ATI) requests. The Oct. 7 ruling comes after McGill submitted a motion last December asking for the ability to deny ATI requests that it deemed “overly broad” or “frivolous,” saying that an increased number of ATI requests were costing the university money and reducing efficiency.

The Commission is a government agency that oversees the application of laws regarding access to documents held by public bodies. Normally, public institutions like McGill can only deny ATI requests on a case-by-case basis by filing an application to refuse the request to the Commission.

Last week’s verdict is part of a pre-mediation process. The second part of McGill’s motion, which asks to deny 19 specific ATI requests submitted by 14 McGill students and alumni in 2012, will be under consideration in a mediation process expected to begin on Nov. 27.

The case will continue to trial if a settlement cannot be reached through mediation.

McGill’s Secretary-General Stephen Strople said McGill cannot make further comments on the matter while it remains before the courts.

“We are disappointed by today’s ruling and we are considering our options regarding an appeal,” Strople said. “This ruling does not resolve the issues. We are, however, encouraged by the fact that both sides remain interested in seeking a mediated settlement.”

Kevin Paul, a McGill law student and one of the students named in the case, said he doubts that the respondents will be able to find an acceptable outcome to the case in the mediation process. He pointed to the political nature of the ATIs that McGill is seeking to deny, many of which regard information on the university’s alleged links to resource extraction projects and military research, as potential reasons for McGill’s actions.

“Even with parts of McGill’s motion thrown out, its legal action is so far-reaching that it would need to back down on a wide array of points for an agreement to come through mediation,” Paul said. “We will not accept the denial of legitimate requests for information simply because the information may be inconvenient politically for the administration.”

McGill’s original motion outlines its reasons for requesting to deny the ATI requests.

“The scope of documents and information requested by the respondents is unreasonable, each request often representing hundreds, if not thousands of pages, and spanning a time period of often more than 10 years,” the original motion reads. “McGill does not have the resources to process many of the individual requests.”

Paul said he anticipates pursuing the matter until a resolution is reached.

“McGill has already gone to such great lengths—and spent so much of students’ tuition money on legal fees in the process—to prevent access to information that it seems somewhat unlikely that it would let up in this fight,” Paul said. “I can’t speak for everyone involved in the case, but I expect we will do what is necessary to see this through. That means seeing whether we can reach an acceptable mediated resolution, and if not, proceeding to trial.”

Richard Kurland, a Vancouver-based lawyer with experience in ATI cases, said that this pre-trial ruling offers the respondents an opportunity to re-submit requests that McGill may find more manageable.

“The parties are at square one,” Kurland said. “McGill cannot prohibit more requests, and the students can get it right this time and give new requests to access the things they need from McGill.”

 

a, News, SSMU

SSMU General Assembly takes stance against Quebec Charter

by Jessica Fu on

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On Oct. 9, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) hosted its Fall 2013 General Assembly (GA). With approximately 50 students in attendance, the GA failed to meet its quorum of 100 SSMU members, and was therefore only able to pass the two motions that were under consideration as recommendations to SSMU Legislative Council. However, both motions—one regarding opposition to the Quebec Charter of Values and the other concerning amendments to the SSMU Constitution—were later passed by SSMU Council.

 

Low Turnout

Just over 50 voting members attended the event; five to 10 viewers watched the livestream, according to numbers presented at SSMU Council the following day. At Council, Arts Senator Claire Stewart-Kannigan questioned SSMU’s advertising strategies this year in comparison to last year, when the 2012 Fall GA met quorum for two of the six motions up for debate.

“Councillors would have been open to the suggestion of doing classroom announcements […]  but it was not even suggested,” she said. “Not everyone was on Council last year so not everyone has that precedent.”

SSMU President Katie Larson acknowledged that turnout was  low. Larson said the SSMU executive had considered many factors when determining the advertising campaign for this year’s GA.

“I didn’t think [classroom announcements] were an appropriate use of councillors’ time,” Larson said. “I didn’t think it would make a huge difference. [….] We did not do an aggressive postering campaign [because] honestly, it’s expensive, and it’s already expensive to run print ads.”

 

Opposition to the Quebec Charter of Values

The GA voted in favour of SSMU officially opposing the proposed Quebec Charter of Values, with specific reference to the section restricting public service workers from wearing conspicuous religious symbols. SSMU will send a letter expressing its opposition to Premier Pauline Marois, McGill Principal Suzanne Fortier, SSMU members, and news media outlets. SSMU will also create an ad-hoc Campaigns Committee in opposition to the charter.

David Benrimoh, representative for the Faculty of Medicine, said the proposed charter would directly affect members of the McGill community.

“There will be at least two people whom I’ve spoken to in my faculty who will be directly affected by this clause if it becomes a law,” Benrimoh said. “[This law] is intended to alienate people; it is intended to make people want to leave Quebec [….] If we do not take a stand […] we are allowing ourselves to move back in history instead of forwards.”

Usually, a motion concerning external matters can only be passed with a quorum of 500 SSMU members. This motion, however, was passed at Council the next day after speaker Rida Malik ruled that the motion was internal to the Society because of the charter’s potential impact on McGill students.

“The scope of the issue that the policy is referencing is external,” Malik said. “[But] it does have a very serious effect on people who go to this university and work at this university.”

 

Changes to the constitution

The forum also approved changes to the SSMU constitution, although the amendments still have to pass in the Fall referendum period. Larson said she brought the constitutional proposals to the GA to give students the opportunity to provide feedback and debate the changes.

According to Larson, one of the main changes is that the new document clarifies the roles of executives and directors.

“It’s super important to have a concise document that sticks to the law and [informs] members about what representatives are going to do, [and] what their rights as members are,” Larson said. “Anyone [should be able to] come to the document and understand how we govern ourselves.”

 

SSMU Board of Directors

One motion that the forum could not vote on due to the GA’s failure to meet quorum was the appointment of councillors to SSMU’s Board of Directors (BoD).

“Short of anything that the Board must absolutely do by law, we can still function because we can still make decisions, and we can still do day-to-day operations,” Larson said. “It’s just things like our investment[s] [.…] The money’s there, but it can’t be moved. If stocks start falling, we can’t pull the money out and store it somewhere else. We’re locked into what we hold right now.”

The BoD is SSMU’s highest governing body, as required by Quebec law, and consists of councillors. Every May, the BoD dissolves until new councillors can be appointed in the Fall. Last year, however, Larson said Council changed the process so that the appointment must go through an additional step of approval by the GA, in an effort to ensure that all members can vote on the appointments. According to Larson, this is common practice for companies.

Larson said that SSMU will probably call a Special General Assembly in the near future to vote on appointed members. Otherwise, the BoD cannot be formed until the Winter GA.

 

a, Science & Technology

Midterm season app reviews

by Caity Hui on

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Study Blue

StudyBlue is one of several flashcard apps available online and for iPhone and Android. The app allows you to make digital flashcards and flip through them while keeping track of your progress. You can also share flashcards with peers. Each flashcard can contain text and pictures, and the app will recommend similar sets of flashcards created by others users to try after you make your own. What makes StudyBlue advantageous compared to your regular flashcards is that the app comes with various filters to help enhance your studying. From creating quizzes based on your cards, to weeding out the cards you answered correctly and creating review sheets—the app allows you to test your knowledge in various engaging ways.

Wunderlist

Wunderlist is like a master to-do list. From grocery shopping to travel arrangements, the app allows you to plan for just about anything. Not only does this app allow you to create lists, it also allows you to share them with your classmates. The app focuses on organization and efficiency, everything from due dates to reminders. It even allows you to turn your emails into reminders and print off your to-dos.

StudyChecker

Didn’t study enough to pass that exam? Don’t blame it on the test. StudyChecker, an app designed for Android phones, has the ability to prove how much you’ve studied. Essentially, the app automatically records your study times and breaks. Then, it displays your stats for the day, week, month of a designated time period to show you what your study and break habits look like. The app also has several other useful features, such as the ability to create task lists to better manage your work.

 

a, Arts & Entertainment, Theatre

Take these broken wings and learn to fly

by Diana Wright on

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It always disturbs me when I hear one of my female peers say something to the tune of, “Don’t worry—I’m not a feminist or anything,” as if it’s something to be embarrassed or even worried about. Thankfully, Imago Theatre’s production of If We Were Birds screams feminism, highlighting the strength of women and decrying the devastating topic of sexual violence against them—and that’s why it sat just right with me.

If We Were Birds, written by Erin Shields and directed by Micheline Chevrier, follows the tragic Greek myth of sisters Philomela (Amelia Sargisson) and Procne (Lauryn Allman).

The production features a mostly all-female cast—only two of the nine characters are played by men. As a result, it takes on a distinctly female point of view, with the audience being privy to intimate moments between the close sisters and experiencing all the action from their perspective.

In this incarnation of the tale, Procne is married off by her father Pandion, the King of Athens, to Tereus, the King of Thrace. Eventually, Philomela is sexually assaulted by Tereus, after which he cuts out her tongue and locks her in a cabin to prevent her from vocalizing the injustice done to her.

The sexual assault scene is handled sensitively, but it also highlights the rage and shame felt by Philomela after such a brutal invasion. Interwoven within her story are the narratives of the chorus (Deena Aziz, Stefanie Buxton, Shiong-En Chan, Clare Schapiro, and Warona Setchwaelo), who present their own accounts of sexual violence suffered at the hands of men, particularly during times of war.

The monologues given by each of these women are extremely powerful, leaving the room seemingly devoid of air; the collective grief felt for them is palpable. But they are also strong; Birds presents these women as survivors who rise above what happened to them. The proliferation of avian imagery in the play supports this notion.

Sargisson’s performance is breathtaking at many points in the production; she deftly maneuvers her character’s transition from an innocent young girl to a violated, knowing woman.

Set and costume designer Diana Uribe distinguishes between those who are naïve and those who have been violated with white and black colours: for the majority of the play Philomela and Procne are clothed in white, while the chorus, and Tereus, are dressed in all black. Interestingly, Pandion is clothed in a dark grey colour, presenting a literal ‘grey area’ between the two extremes—an attribute that is mirrored in his character.

Although this might seem like a rather obvious visual choice, the white costumes allow for a breath of fresh air from the mostly dark and foreboding set, replete with a ladder, a chain fence, birdcages, and an ominous platform above the stage.

The play clips along at an adequately quick pace, clocking in at just under an hour and a half. However, the brevity of the performance does not mar its worth—instead, it keeps the production from being bogged down by unnecessary distractions.

If We Were Birds uses Greek myth to explore a subject which is still, unfortunately, extremely prevalent in today’s society. There is a sense of anger and desperation in this production, one that calls for more care to the injustices suffered by women in war-torn countries—as well as those closer to home.

However, where Birds excels the most is in its insistence in portraying female victims of sexual violence as survivors; here, feminism prevails in the refusal to stay silent, instead drawing attention to something that is far more frequent than is often reported, and far more damaging than can be imagined.

If We Were Birds is playing at Centaur Theatre (543 St-François Xavier in Old Montreal) until Oct. 19. Student tickets are $18. Box Office: 514-288-3161 or online: http://www.centaurtheatre.com/tickets.php The Oct. 19 matinee is pay-what-you-can (suggested donation is $10)

Continuing their mandate to encourage dialogue, Imago Theatre will hold a talkback after each performance. 

a, Arts & Entertainment, Music

Pearl Jam – Lightning Bolt

by Haaris Aziz on

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No one would have thought that any band could surpass the unique sound—or should I say noise—of legendary grunge-rock band Nirvana. But Pearl Jam did.

The Seattle-based band’s career began with their grunge debut album Ten (1991), but the band’s music seemed to transition to a more alternative rock sound after the release of Vitalogy in 1994. That newer sound has guided them all the way to their current release, Lightning Bolt.

This consistent alternative rock is an echo of their grunge sound. It is what helped Pearl Jam become as successful as it is today. While listening to Lightning Bolt, I could easily tell it was the same band that took grunge-rock lovers by storm in 1991 and revived the genre after the tragic and unexpected death of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain in 1994. Eddie Vedder’s inimitable deep, husky voice is just as healthy as it was 20 years ago, and the band’s solidarity is just as strong.

Pearl Jam could not have picked a better name for its 10th studio album. Lightning Bolt  mainly offers fast-paced rock. The opener “Getaway” gives you the same ‘rock-out’ feeling experienced upon first hearing “Even Flow” and “Alive,” singles off of Ten. The aggressive riff flowing through “Getaway” demonstrates Mike McCready’s classic rock influence, and accompanied by ex-Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron’s dynamic beats, the song is almost a perfect opener to an almost perfect album.

However, the whole album isn’t as electric as its name implies. Pearl Jam frequently integrates a different, slower sound into their grunge roots. Classics like the melodic “Black” and acoustic single “Just Breathe” are perfect examples; and you can expect a similar sound on Lightning Bolt. 

Once again, Pearl Jam has bottled up sonic lightning while leaving a place on the album for the calm before the storm. If you are an avid Pearl Jam fan, this album will not disappoint.

 

a, Arts & Entertainment, Music

Drake – Nothing Was The Same

by Haviva Yesgat on

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Drake reasserts himself as one of hip-hop’s front-running rappers with the release of his third studio album, Nothing Was the Same. While the album possesses chart-topping singles such as “Started From The Bottom” and “Hold On We’re Going Home,” the more obscure tracks deserve sizable credit for the album’s lyrical and melodic eminence.

Nothing Was The Same’s first track, “Tuscan Leather,” is arguably the musical highlight of the album. The song impressively samples Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing,” and Curtis Mayfield’s “When Seasons Change.” Commendably, Drake pays great homage to musical legends. In a solid track titled “Wu Tang Forever” he makes clever references to one of hip-hop’s greatest groups of all time.

The honesty put forth in Nothing Was the Same is one that rap fans do not come across very often. In the revealing single, “Too Much,” Drake brilliantly exposes his personal struggles by framing them with intelligent lyrics and a melodically heartbreaking chorus. His ability to successfully deviate from rap stereotypes by showcasing a rare form of vulnerability is a definite breath of fresh air.

While Drake does not feature many artists on the album, he decides to share the spotlight with A-list hip-hop powerhouse Jay Z on “Pound Cake.” This track may not be the album’s most preeminent song, but it is a great representation of the change in rap culture. With so much competition in the industry, it is captivating to see a young rapper go head-to-head with a notable veteran.

Nothing Was the Same puts Drake in the upper realms of both hip hop and R&B. With the help of producing partner Noah “40” Shebib, a Grammy nomination is likely in the works for the young artist.

 

 

a, Arts & Entertainment, Music

LOEGz – #LeagueShit

by Kia Pouliot on

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Austin, Texas-based rap collective, the League of Extraordinary Gz (LOEGz) recently geared up to release their third album, #LeagueShit, which dropped Oct. 15. The album is named in honour of recently deceased League emcee Octavis “Esbe Da 6th Street Bully” Berry, to whom the catchphrase belonged.

LOEGz consists of three groups who began collaborating in 2009: Da C.O.D. (Mr. Greezo, S. Dot, Tuk-da-Gat and Lil’ J), Dred Skott (Reggie Coby and Esbe), and Southbound (Lowkey and Sandman). Largely produced by League member Reggie Coby and including guest vocals from names such as Dead Prez, Bavu Blakes, Slim Gravy, and instrumentals from Latin Funk Band Group Fanstasma, #LeagueShit is a dynamic record, showcasing the artists’ raw musicality.

The lyrical prowess and versatility of the rappers is clear in the album’s range of song topics, with a mix of lighter themes like girls and parties, as well as weightier political and socially-minded subjects. Tracks like “4 Dollar Blues,” with the hook “I got the 4 dollar blues/I got no money/I can’t put no gas in my car” and “Party at My House,” which is about not getting into a club, are a refreshing break from the themes of opulence and A-list lifestyle common in much of mainstream hip-hop. “Maybe She’s Right,” a song about break-ups, shows off the group’s cheeky humour by sampling snippets of angry voicemails left by a fed up girlfriend throughout the track.

The Gz’ serious side comes out in tracks such as “Never Know Me,” which focuses on the alienation that many lower class members of society often feel, as well as the snap judgments made about people based on how they appear and where they live.

Although some tracks certainly shine more than others, for the fan of classic rap #LeagueShit is a worthwhile album of consistent overall quality.

 

a, Arts & Entertainment

Could be good

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MUSIC

Matt Mays

A veteran on the Canadian rock music scene, frontman of Matt Mays & El Torpedo is currently in the middle of a solo tour. Adam Baldwin opens the show.

Wednesday Oct. 16, doors open at 9 p.m., Petit Campus (57 Prince-Arthur E). Tickets are $15.

 

DOCUMENTARY

Good Ol’ Freda

Alhough it is being shown in Montreal for the first time, this film has already been showcased at several large film festivals this year. It is an exclusive portrait of Freda Kelly, The Beatles’ secretary throughout their entire tenure as a band. Kelly tells stories about her experience as both an employee and close friend of the band that she began to work with as a teenager.

Begins playing on Friday Oct. 18, Cinema du Parc (3575 Parc). Student admission is $8.50.

 

DANCE

DansEmotion Convention

The second annual installment of this exposition will feature workshops and presentations from some of the best in the Quebec dance community, ranging from classical to hip-hop. This year, the event has expanded slightly to include conferences in music, drama, and visual arts.

Friday Oct. 18, 10 a.m – 5 p.m. and Saturday Oct. 19, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Place Bonaventure (800, rue de la Gauchetière Ouest). Student admission is $12 for one day and $20 for both.

 

MUSIC

Man Man

Fresh off the release of their fifth studio album, On Oni Pond, Man Man returns to Montreal to perform. The group is noted for their experimental style and multi-instrumentational tracks. Xenia Rubinos opens the show.

Saturday Oct. 19, doors open at 8 p.m., Cabaret du Mile End (5420 Parc). Tickets are $16 in advance and $20 at the door.

 

SLAM POETRY

Throw Poetry Collective

Join this spoken word and poetry community for their monthly slam poetry event that brings together poets, musicians, rappers, and beat-boxers from across Montreal.

Sunday Oct. 20, 8 p.m., Divan Orange (4234 St. Laurent).

a, News

EUS president announces resignation

by Jessica Fu on

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Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS) President Zachary Moreland announced his resignation on Oct. 7. EUS Vice-President Internal Eric Kueper is currently serving as interim president until a Special Selection Committee appoints the next president on Nov. 4.

Moreland has held the position since May of 2013. In a letter to members of the EUS, Moreland cited personal reasons for his resignation, and he asked people to refrain from asking questions.

“My reasons for making this decision are plentiful and personal,” Moreland said. “I will say, however, that the end result of these various influences is that I am no longer confident in my ability to perform at the level that I myself would expect of a president.”

Although the resignation takes effect immediately, Moreland said he would aid in the transition process for the new president. The next president will be chosen by a Special Selection Committee, which is composed of the seven remaining EUS executives, as well as one representative from each of engineering’s seven departmental associations.

Applications are open to all members of the EUS. The deadline to apply for the position is Oct. 21, and the Special Selection Committee will meet on Oct. 22 to interview candidates and determine the new president. The selected president will be ratified by EUS Council on Nov. 4.

According to EUS Vice-President External Bryan Gingras, this process for the appointment of a new president is mandated by the constitution, which was first passed in 1974. He said it is therefore difficult to know exactly why the constitution mandates a selection committee to choose Moreland’s successor, rather than electing the new president in a by-election.

“Forming a Selection Committee is definitely the most logical choice from a logistical standpoint, and will result in the smallest possible disruption to the EUS’s many day-to-day activities,” he said.

According to EUS Vice-President Communications Luis Pombo, Moreland’s resignation came as a surprise.

“It goes without saying that the first reaction to the news from executives, councillors, and the student body in general, was that of surprise,” Pombo said. “Zac had done a strong job as president and was very passionate about implementing his ideas, so nobody saw it coming.”

Pombo said the resignation would not affect members of the EUS in the upcoming weeks.

“Realistically, the lack of a president does not have an observable impact on members of the EUS in the short run,” he said. “We have a strong executive team and an even stronger volunteer base that can put in the extra hours to remediate the absence of a president for the three weeks that we will be without one.”

Kueper said that although the resignation was unfortunate, he looks forward to the year.

“During his time as president of the EUS, [Moreland] brought our executive together and certainly started EUS council off on the right foot,” Kueper said. “I look forward to welcoming the successor of Zachary Moreland […] and until that time I am enthused to serve as interim president of the EUS.”

 

a, News

What happened last week in Canada?

by Meghan Collie on

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Alice Munro wins Nobel Prize in Literature

Author Alice Munro, age 82, was awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature last Thursday, making her the first Canadian-based author as well as the first Canadian woman to win a Nobel prize in any category.

Munro is an Ontario-based author renowned for her short stories, many of which focus on women growing up in small-town southern Ontario. Munroe has published 14 short story collections, including her most recent, Dear Life, in 2012. She announced her retirement from writing earlier this year. The Swedish Academy called her a “master of the contemporary story.”

“My stories have gotten around quite remarkably for short stories,” she told CBC on Thursday. “I would really hope that this would make people see the short story as an important art, not something you play around with until you get a novel written.”

After the announcement of the prize early Thursday morning, many people offered their congratulations via Twitter, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper and fellow authors Margaret Atwood and Lynn Coady.

 

Montreal police expert arrested for selling information

Benoît Roberge, previously the Montreal Police’s leading expert on organized crime, has been arrested for selling information to biker gangs about ongoing police investigations. He now faces four charges for crimes allegedy committed between 2010 and 2013—one count of obstructing justice, one count of breach of trust, and two counts related to gangsterism.

Roberge was arrested while allegedly in the company of a person connected to the Hells Angels biker gang. He has also been suspended from his current position at the head of Revenue Quebec’s intelligence unit.

Suspected irregularities—which have been kept confidential due to ongoing investigations—have led police to believe that information was being leaked for several months. This triggered an internal investigation that led to Roberge, who had been working with a specialized unit that focused on biker activities earlier this year.

“The investigation will demonstrate at what period of time exactly Mr. Roberge leaked information on organized-crime investigations,” Michel Forget, a provincial police inspector, said.

 

Court rules against assisted suicide

On Oct. 10, the British Columbia Court of Appeal upheld the current law against assisted suicide in a case involving a now-deceased patient with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Gloria Taylor.

Last year, a landmark ruling was made in Taylor’s favour when a B.C. Supreme Court judge decided that the restriction of physician-assisted suicide violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The federal government then appealed the ruling, which was sent to the B.C Court of Appeal, the highest decision-making body in the province.

In the Oct. 10 verdict, the B.C. Court of Appeal stood by a ruling made 20 years ago by the Supreme Court of Canada. The B.C. Court of Appeal said the case raised significant issues with the right to life, liberty, and security of persons guaranteed by Section 7 of the Charter.

The B.C. Civil Liberties Association said it plans to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.

“Without a change in the law, seriously ill individuals will continue to suffer against their wishes at the end of life, without the choice and the dignity that they deserve,” Grace Pastine, the lawyer heading the appeal, told the Vancouver Sun.

 

Youth ministry leader sentenced to 18 years for sex crimes

A former city councillor in St. John and youth ministry leader was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Thursday for 46 sex crimes against children including child pornography, sexual assault, and extortion. Donnie Snook, 41, pled guilty to the crimes which were alleged to have taken place over 12 years and to have affected 17 victims.

In accordance with the judge’s verdict, Snook will provide a DNA sample and break all contact with his victims for the duration of his jail time. In addition, Snook’s name will be added to the national sex offender’s registry, which allows police in every province to access information such as a convicted sex offender’s address.

A report released prior to the sentencing suggested that Snook’s actions were driven by deviant sexual interest in boys, and found that he has a moderate chance of re-offending. According to crown prosecutor Karen Lee Lamrock, 18 years is one of the longest sentences ever given in Canada for such a case.

 

Calgary mayor criticizes new art installation

Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi has publically criticized the city’s newest art installation “Travelling Light” as a poor use of the city’s money. The piece, which cost $471,000, is 17 meters tall and situated on a major highway. It is a large blue circle featuring two parallel sticks resembling streetlights.

Calgary devotes one per cent of its capital budget to public art. While Nenshi said he supports this policy, he argued that the recent installation is not a good use of that budget.

“I think that putting art where people are whipping by at high speeds is maybe not the best use of that one per cent,” Nenshi said. “I don’t like it; I think it’s terrible.”

The project was chosen by a panel of five citizens and was initiated before Nenshi became mayor in 2010.

Rachael Seupersad, Calgary’s public art program superintendent, said the sculpture is meant to represent the universal mode of transportation—the wheel.

“The artist really looked at the environment and the surrounding area,” Seupersad said. “It is a place where all modes of transportation and movement come together and that is captured […] within this piece.”

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