When I was sixteen, I worked as a cashier at a local bakery on Saturday and Sunday mornings, the two busiest days of the week. I would often leave work with $40 USD or more—just about half a shift’s wage—shoved in my pocket, mostly wrinkled dollar bills that were stuffed[Read More…]
Off the Board
Don’t call me busy
McGill is a large school teeming with spaces to get involved. Finding your niche as a freshman is daunting, and, even then, being involved can come to feel like a burden. Students must often juggle their coursework with extracurricular activities, social commitments, volunteering, and athletics. Students who are incredibly engaged[Read More…]
Down the ballot: Presidential hooplah overshadows Congress
For citizens of the United States, this has been the most entertaining—and for some, the most nauseating—presidential election in memory. Disgruntled voters are threatening not to cast their vote because they feel neither large-party candidate suits their interests, and the movement to vote third party is gaining steam, especially among[Read More…]
Marijuana legalization poses significant risks for youth
One of Justin Trudeau’s flashiest policies has been his promise to legalize marijuana. Taking advantage of 4/20 this past April, his government announced that it will be instated in the spring of 2017—only one year later. We’re halfway through that time, and his policy remains vague and shallow. Trudeau is[Read More…]
Safer bike infrastructure the route to gender parity among Montreal cyclists
There is a pervasive cycling culture in Montreal; dozens of bike shops are dotted throughout the city and there is a persistent set of cyclists who are dedicated to riding their bikes even during the winter months. Despite the presence of a thriving cycling culture, active transportation infrastructure leaves something[Read More…]
Putting career anxiety to rest at CaPS
I thought I had it all figured out coming into university. Despite life constantly changing, I thought my career choices wouldn’t. However, two years into my bachelor’s degree, I realized that my career plans weren’t exactly what I wanted or could achieve. I originally had two paths: Becoming a published[Read More…]
Montreal pit bulls victims of impulsive decision-making
Last week, the Montreal City council passed a bylaw that will prevent the city’s residents from adopting any new pit bulls and introduce a set of rules governing existing pit bull owners. This decision has garnered much attention, mainly in the form of outrage and criticism: Montreal residents have set[Read More…]
The hidden harm of voluntourism
While the idea of going abroad to help impoverished communities is commendable, volunteering abroad has several negative consequences that directly oppose the humanitarian intentions behind these trips. Many agencies that offer volunteer opportunities abroad sell the idea of ‘contributing to a community,’ whether by helping to build wells, schools, or[Read More…]
Where are you from? In defence of seeing race
“Where are you from?” is a loaded question. At McGill, depending on who is asking and who is being asked, the meaning of ‘where are you from?’ can range from an ambivalent, ‘where did you grow up?’ to a watered down, ‘why aren’t you white?’ As a person of colour[Read More…]
Take a knee: Why Colin Kaepernick’s protest is not in vain
Want to start a fight? Just follow Colin Kaepernick’s lead and kneel in protest of police brutality during the American national anthem at an NFL “Military Appreciation Night.” Since the Aug. 26 incident, Kaepernick has been derided for disrespecting the troops, desecrating the flag, and hating America. The least-inflamed of[Read More…]
