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8th annual Indigenous Awareness Week honours First Nations from across Canada

by Kyle Dewsnap on

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McGill’s Faculty Club saw a change in decor on Sept. 17, when its historical paintings were replaced by artwork from local indigenous artists, welcoming guests to the opening event of McGill’s eighth annual Indigenous Awareness Week (IAW). Moreover, for the first time in McGill’s history, IAW’s length was extended from five to twelve days, giving more time for both cultural and academic events to take place. In total, 18 events are scheduled between Sept.17 to 28.

IAW provides an opportunity not only for McGill students to learn about indigenous culture, but also for some students to proudly embrace their heritage.

“Having the Pow Wow, having indigenous people from the West coast come in, it makes [McGill] feel like home,” Tomas Jirousek, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Indigenous Affairs Commissioner, said.

The week began with a keynote speech delivered by Janelle Kasperski, indigenous education advisor in the Social Equity and Diversity Education office. Following Kasperski’s welcome, members of the Kahnawà:ke community performed traditional singing with rattles and water drums. As a member of the Nisga’a Nation of Laxgalts’ap BC, Kasperski sees IAW as an opportunity to share the beauty of indigenous culture.

“The point of [IAW] is just to celebrate success,” Kasperski said. “This week is about celebrating and looking at how many different nations there are across Turtle Island, Canada, and the United States. They have so many beautiful and varied talents that we really need to celebrate.”

Later in the week, the Indigenous Health Professions Program hosted a video-recorded panel discussion titled “Dismantling Racism in Healthcare and Education.” Tania Dick, president of the Association of Registered Nurses of British Columbia, began her talk with the story of Brian Sinclair, an indigenous man who died after spending 34 hours in a Manitoban hospital waiting room after hospital staff thought he was only there to watch TV. According to Dick, Sinclair’s story is all too common.

“Last year alone, we got to visit about 23 [indigenous communities in BC],” Dick said. “I’m not exaggerating, every single community had a Brian Sinclair story. That’s why we’re here today, that’s why the change needs to happen, and it’s that critical that people are dying because of what we’re talking about.”

Whereas panel discussions provided a platform to discuss important socio-political topics, cultural events were an opportunity for indigenous artisans and performers to demonstrate their craft. The pinnacle event was the 17th annual Pow Wow hosted on Lower Field. Even the deafening sound of rain could not dampen the spirits of the dancers and musicians under the tent, as the Hiawatha Belt—the flag of the Iroquois Confederacy—flew above the Arts Building. The Royal Canadian Mint used the opportunity to unveil a new silver coin that features a vibrantly-coloured dancer on the front.

While the weeks’ events comprise a praised celebration local excellence, some students believe that McGill needs to do more. According to Noah Favel, co-chair of SSMU’s Indigenous Student Alliance, McGill must make a greater effort to attract new indigenous students.

“Only 0.9 per cent of McGill’s student population is indigenous, which is one of the lowest in Canada [the average at Canadian universities is 3 per cent],” Favel said. “I think weeks like this help to promote identity and indigenous student presence on campus, which will spread to indigenous communities and encourage them to apply to McGill.”

Students who are interested in attending this weeks’ events can consult the IAWs website. Kasperski personally recommended that students attend a talk by Smokey Sumac on Sept. 27th, a PhD candidate whose work focuses on ‘coming home’ as a Ktunaxa adoptee and two-spirit person—someone who identifies as having both a masculine and feminine spirit.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with [Smokey Sumac] in the past around indigenous perspectives, history, and storytelling,” Kasperski said.

The Cannabis Act, which legalizes marijuana possession, comes into effect Oct. 17. (Winnie Lin / The McGill Tribune)
Commentary, Opinion

Quebec is legalizing cannabis—barely

by Jacob Sailer on

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Legal marijuana is set to hit stores and online markets country-wide in less than a month, and many Canadians are eagerly awaiting this change. Amidst the excitement, Quebec is taking a sideways attitude toward legalization. Quebec’s hesitance to embrace the benefits of legal cannabis has resulted in half-baked rules and regulations regarding the product. By ignoring the potential of legal marijuana, the provincial government is taking a poorly researched and ignorant approach to legalization.

On Oct. 17, the Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) will open in only four retail outlets in Greater Montreal. A subsidiary of the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ), SQDC shops are the only retailers permitted to sell marijuana in the province. McGill students have one reason to rejoice: One of the four dispensaries will be located between the Peel and McGill Metro stations, minutes from campus. Still, the limited locations leave entire swaths of the island dry. Four dispensaries will not have the capacity to service the entire population of Montreal, which will hinder the provincial government’s goal of undermining the black market and stamping out illicit drug trade.

Quebec’s attitude is diametrically opposed to that of other provinces in Canada, namely Ontario, which predicts tax revenue for weed sales at $130-180 million a year, and is allowing private retailers to sell the product in their own shops as of 2019. Quebec’s stance on legalization is rooted in anti-marijuana rhetoric, such as Public Health Minister Lucie Charlebois’s claims that, if Quebecers were allowed to grow their own cannabis, children would sneak into their grow-ops and eat the plants.

The provincial and municipal governments are enacting regulation upon regulation in preparation for legalization. Montreal announced a new cannabis contraband squad, created to track and squash illegal weed sales. Quebec banned the sale of clothing and products featuring marijuana leaves or references. This over-restriction of cannabis is rooted in fear rather than proven science.

While the government claims that it introduced these regulations to limit children’s exposure to the substance, there are more effective ways of achieving this goal than arbitrary restrictions on something as trivial as clothing. Quebec officials should raise the age to 19, 21, or even 25 to safely limit exposure to teenage brains instead. Alternatively, the province could place  dispensary locations farther away from schools and CEGEPs—the Plaza St-Hubert dispensary location is less than two blocks from CEGEP Marie Victorin.

Opening more than four government dispensaries in the city, or even privatizing the industry as a whole, would be far more effective in quelling the black market, and would allow for real revenue to be generated for the city and greater Quebec. Instead, the province is paying insufficient attention to the more important dangers of marijuana usage—such as its potentially negative effects on developing brains—and half-heartedly focusing on minutiae, blind to the potential benefits of legalization.

Quebec’s marijuana legislation is too restrictive in the wrong ways, and too lax in areas which require real regulation. It is poorly researched and neglects the legal marijuana industry’s potential. The province is disregarding significant potential revenue, opting instead to legalize halfway. Quebec needs to follow the examples of Ontario or British Columbia and start considering the benefits that marijuana legalization poses.

McGill, News

Blind law student files complaint against McGill University

by Christina Bedard on

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After finding out that he failed six of his classes last April, Didier Chelin, a blind student from the McGill Faculty of Law, decided to file a complaint against McGill University with the Quebec Human Rights Commission (CDPDJ). Chelin alleges that the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and the Faculty failed to accommodate his disability and mental health issues.

During a press conference held by Chelin in August, he explained that the OSD failed to act as a mediator between his rehabilitation centre and professors, which resulted in him spending two months without class material during his first semester in 2014. He needed the material in advance so that his centre, the Institut Nazareth et Louis-Braille (INLB), could transcribe it in an electronic format. Additionally, Chelin needed a scribe for exams and assignments. The OSD, as mandated by the Ministry of Education through the Programme d’allocation pour des besoins particuliers, is tasked with securing funding for resources essential to its students—such as scribes—by completing forms on their behalf. The OSD allegedly failed to fulfill their responsibilities, leaving Chelin to rely on friends and family members for help until he had no choice but to hire a scribe himself.

Moreover, due to his late access to course material, Chelin repeatedly needed to stay up all night, which eventually resulted in generalized anxiety. Following a mental health crisis in May 2017, wherein Chelin experienced suicidal thoughts, the OSD did not give him an opportunity to receive a diagnosis or therapy, a situation that is still persisting over a year after the event. He resorted to seeking help from a private psychologist, once again paying out-of-pocket.

The complaint is set to be officially filed with the CDPDJ by October, but the process will be arduous. Once the Commission receives the complaint, it has to decide if it can intervene and whether it should. If the Commission decides to proceed with the complaint, the parties have the opportunity to settle in mediation. If mediation fails, the file is transferred to an investigator who collects evidence and testimonies to enable the CDPDJ Complaint Committee to make a decision. If corrective measures are suggested, McGill will be obligated to respect them or else risk facing a lawsuit.                      

“There is a clear pattern of systemic discrimination from the OSD through the adoption of policies that work against the interests of students with a permanent disability,” Chelin said. “The Law Faculty has a disposition to take on rigid accommodation policies that are inappropriate and unresponsive to the distinct situations each student [faces].”

This litigation provides an opportunity to thoroughly examine the treatment and support offered to disabled students within the University.

“Due to the number of systemic barriers involved [in Chelin’s case], we will also be looking at the global situation regarding the access of students with disabilities to McGill services, programs, and activities,” explained Fo Niemi, head of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations, the organization through which Chelin is filing his complaint.

Advocating for students in need of special accommodations is the role of the Students Affairs Office (SAO), but students are sometimes left to advocate for themselves and, without support from the SAO, the struggle can be overwhelming. Julie Tee-Michaud, a student suffering from an autoimmune disease which affects her mobility, also had troubles with the SAO and the Law Faculty throughout her years as a law student.

“There are people who are allies and genuinely caring,” Tee-Michaud said. “Unfortunately, others in positions of authority are making a conscious decision by creating and enforcing policies of systemic discrimination.”

When asked for their perspective, the OSD chose not to comment on the matter.

 

Straws and stir sticks make up only three per percent of garbage in the ocean.
Commentary, Opinion

Straws aren’t the problem

by Makena Anderson on

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A consensus has emerged: Plastic straws are bad. But the reasons why these flimsy cylinders of plastic are suddenly (not) at the tip of everyone’s tongues may not stand up to scrutiny. It’s comforting to see that McGill’s favourite neighbourhood spots are distancing themselves from the recently tabooed straw, but it also raises some questions as to how Montreal is making an impact on the environment. Straws are not the reason species are dying at an exponential rate, nor why the city is experiencing record-breaking heat waves.

Students were quick to offer their support to Montreal’s go-to spots like Suwu, Tokyo, and even Starbucks when they announced that they would no longer be offering plastic straws. After all, straws pose legitimate harm: Reports say that an average of 170–390 million straws are used in the USA every day. Although they are made of plastic, straws cannot be recycled, and, ultimately, many of them end up in the ocean. Consumers quickly turned to Amazon to buy wooden, glass, and stainless-steel straws and their cleaning brushes to prepare for a strawless future. But our motives for jumping on the bandwagon so quickly require reflection. Even as an environment major, I didn’t understand the impacts that straws were having on aquatic systems, climate change, or even the environment as a whole. What are straws doing that cars aren’t? Or that the meat industry isn’t? By boycotting straws, how am I helping?

One of the most significant problems that Montreal’s compost and recycling depots face is ineffective sorting. McGill cafés, including Première Moisson, offer compostable containers and cups, yet our campus lacks an adequate supply of compost bins. When compostable materials end up in the recycling, they pose a risk of contaminating entire batches of recyclable materials, which will then have to be thrown away. McGill must take strides to improve the availability of compost sites on campus to support their students’ recycling and compost efforts.

There are many resources that explain the specifics regarding waste sorting in Montreal. Each city is different—just because you’re used to something at home, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the same in Montreal. Students should also consider bringing a reusable container and travel mug: The beginning of the semester can take a toll on your eating and caffeine consumption habits, and while it’s not necessarily a bad thing to grab a take-out container and a cup of coffee on campus, single-use waste can add up throughout the semester. Students can take advantage of the resources McGill provides: The Plate Club, Midnight Kitchen, and Reboot McGill can help students reduce their daily waste. The Plate Club, for example, rents out reusable dishware to the university’s clubs and students.

While boycotting straws is a step in the right direction, it certainly is not the last step. The elimination of straws has sparked a discussion about how we, as McGill  students, can lessen our impact on the environment in a real and meaningful way. Now, we must take these initiatives a step further.

Arts & Entertainment, Comedy

Montreal’s ‘The Dropout! Show’ series continues to impress

by Deana Korsunsky on

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A heavy-metal concert venue might seem like an odd place to host a stand up comedy show. Juxtaposed with light-hearted laughter, however, the skulls embedded in Katacombes’ walls only served to enhance the already wildly-funny night that was The Dropout! Show. Thursday’s event was the eighth installment in a monthly series of stand up comedy shows produced by McGill student and comedian, Nicholas Krywucki, U2 Psychology. The show hosted a wide variety of comics, ranging from seasoned veterans like Aba Atlas (one half of the YouTube comedy channel, Aba and Preach), to emerging talents like Dawson College student, Harrison Weinreb.

The show kicked off with host Alan Shane Lewis’ opening set. Lewis’ high energy and cheerful disposition held the audience’s full attention as he warmed up the crowd, joking about everything from his lived experience as a black man to mundanities like cereal preferences.

The show was cleverly structured to highlight its diverse range of acts. Last minute special guest Masimo kept the audience convulsing with laughter as he told anecdotes from his childhood. His shrewd impressions and deft physical humour painted a charming picture of growing up in a family of Italian-Canadian immigrants. Masimo’s endearing anecdotes not only evoked one of the loudest reactions from the audience, but also provided a unique cultural perspective.

Following Masimo was Amy Cunningham, whose quiet, mousy demeanour hilariously contrasted the irreverence of her jokes.

“Yeah, I have interesting hair,” Cunningham quipped, running her hands through her dyed-platinum mohawk. “When I got this haircut it actually turned me vegan. You don’t even wanna know what else this haircut made me do.”   

The show closed with headliner Nick Nemeroff, a Toronto-based comedian. Nemeroff boasts an impressive resume: He won “Best Breakout Comic” at the I Heart Jokes festival in Toronto, and has even performed at Up Next, Comedy Central’s annual showcase. Nemeroff’s style was entirely unique; it was neither vulgar nor impression-based, and he was not overly dependent on physical movement. Instead, he drew laughs from his audience with monotonously-delivered one liners, (“Like most people my age, I am 28”). Nemeroff’s strengths also lie in his expertly crafted puns, (“I actually identify as a white guy with dreads. I dread the past, the present, and the space between those two jokes”). Anyone unable to make it to Nemeroff’s local shows will be pleased to know that he will be making his late-night debut on Sept. 25 on Conan, an impressive achievement for any comedian.

The Dropout! Show’s eighth iteration was a definite success. In today’s world of Netflix stand up comedy specials, which can be so enticingly-conducive to staying in and curling up in bed, it can be difficult to summon the motivation to trek to a live comedy show. The Dropout! Show’s  creative and lighthearted atmosphere, however, was worth the outing, and the “bring your own blanket” theme was enough to make even a heavy-metal concert venue feel cozy.

The Dropout! Show’s next installment will take place on Oct. 25. Student tickets are $5.

A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Kris Bulgar was the host of the event. In fact, the host was Alan Shane Lewis. The Tribune regrets this error.

Montreal, News

Student issues discussed at Concordia provincial elections debate

by Nina Russell on

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On Sept. 21, a week before Québec’s provincial election on Oct. 1, candidates gathered at the D.B. Clarke Theatre at Concordia University to discuss issues pertaining to students including climate change, tuition hikes for international students, unpaid internships, and sexual assault. The debate was organized by the Concordia Student Union (CSU) and the Concordia Political Science Student Association (PSSA) to promote student engagement in provincial politics in preparation for a close election.

One of the most contentious issues of the night was the cost for higher education, especially in light of the Quebéc Liberal Party’s (PLQ) recent decision to deregulate tuition fees for international students.

“I think it’s absolutely legitimate that there be a fee differential [between domestic and international students],” PLQ Candidate David Birnbaum said. “Our universities start by belonging to Quebecers and they’re open to the world, but you all know that there’s limited funds available. Universities are deeply expensive institutions to operate, and for those who might come here and bring their expertise elsewhere, to pay a little bit more is absolutely legitimate.”

All but two of the candidates, Birnbaum and Christopher Steele of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), presented free tuition as part of their platforms. Both candidates stated that free education, while a noble goal, is not feasible in the near future. Conversely, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois of Québec Solidaire cited other developed countries with free higher education systems as proof to the contrary and claimed that it would only take approximately one per cent of the provincial spending to provide free education for all.

“I think the [PLQ] made a big mistake by [completely] deregulating the tuition fee for international students,” Nadeau-Dubois said. “The first consequence of that will be that we will not recruit the best students, but we will recruit the students [with] the means [to pay] those unbelievably high tuition fees. And that’s a problem for Quebec, it’s a problem for our universities, and it’s a problem for those students, of course.”

The debate featured questions and answers in both French and English in an attempt to encourage participation by members of both the francophone and anglophone communities. Typically, English-speaking Quebecers experience low voter turnout in provincial elections.

“​I think that both communities should work harder to overcome the language divide,” Patrick Groeneveld-Meijer, VP External Affairs of Concordia’s PSSA and one of the organizers of the debate, wrote in a Facebook message to The McGill Tribune. “Quebecers need to start focusing on the issues that unite us, rather than those that cause division. Our hope is that we will be taking a step in this direction by hosting the debate in both [languages].”

Ensuring that the needs of students are adequately addressed by the parties and their platforms was also at the forefront of the debate.

“[With] tuition fees rising, unpaid internships, and precarious youth unemployment becoming more common, […] there is no shortage of students getting involved […in political]issues,” Josh Hutton, CSU Financial Coordinator wrote in an email to the Tribune. “[…The] real question is, what are political parties doing to earn their support? We know that when young people believe that their vote will make a difference, they will vote. If politicians ignore young people’s concerns, they return the favour.”

Ben Corkett, a political activist present at the debate, elaborated on the impact that youth can have in swaying the vote.

“I think we shouldn’t underestimate to what extent student organizing can be at the forefront of both local and global politics,” Corkett said. “There’s a lot that can happen here, and I think that it’s important for politicians to recognize the importance of the power that the youth have in the shaping of the country and the province.”

 

A previous version of this article attributed a quote to Chris Kalafatidis, president of Concordia’s PSSA and one of the organizers of the debate. In fact, the quote was from Patrick Groeneveld-Meijer, VP External Affairs of Concordia’s PSSA and one of the organizers of the debate. The Tribune regrets this error.

Research Briefs, Science & Technology

McGill welcomes inspiring new science professors

by Oceane Marescal on

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McGill University is world-renowned for the quality and exceptional range of its scientific research. Such excellence is made possible by its professors, competitively selected from among the world’s best scientists. This year, 17 new professors joined McGill’s Faculty of Science. The McGill Tribune got to know four of the departments newest additions.

Cynthia Chiang: Physics

Cynthia Chiang joins the Department of Physics as a cosmologist, studying the history, structure, and evolution of the universe. Using specialized telescopes, Chiang seeks to discover how and when the universe began, what it’s made of, and what’s in store for its future.

“I’m most excited about building the instrumentation to make these measurements, with the goal of opening new observational windows on uncharted periods of the universe’s history,” Chiang wrote in an email to the Tribune.

Prior to coming to McGill, Chiang was a senior lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa. She has also spent time as a winterover scientist for the South Pole Telescope (SPT) during the winter of 2012.

“Our work involved troubleshooting various aspects of the new polarimeter camera, as well as regular maintenance tasks […] like applying buckets of grease to the gears outdoors when it was pitch dark and -70˚C outside,” Chiang wrote.

Outside of her academic commitments, Chiang enjoys working on art projects, playing the piano, hiking, and admiring the Montreal art scene. Her principal advice to students is to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Eric Hehman: Psychology

Eric Hehman comes to McGill’s Department of Psychology from Ryerson University. His research focuses on how people form impressions of one another across group boundaries like race, gender, and sexuality.

At the societal level, Hehman examines how communities differ with respect to prejudice. He hopes that his research will help explain the influence of racial misconceptions on real-world decisions such as who to date, hire, fire, or vote for. Appropriately, Hehman will be teaching Social Psychology (PSYC 215) next semester.

Hehman recommends that undergraduates find and pursue a topic that interests them.

“[As an undergraduate student] my struggle was to find something I was passionate about,” Hehman wrote. “I was a fairly terrible student until I stumbled [upon] research in social psychology.”

A regular weekend for Hehman involves reading science-fiction books, hanging out with friends, and lifting weights at the gym. He enjoys backpacking, hiking, and the easy access to the outdoors from Montreal.

Nagissa Mahmoudi: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Nagissa Mahmoudi researches the function and activity of microorganisms that live at the bottom of the ocean.

“My research employs a variety of field and laboratory based tools, ranging from experimental microbiology to isotope geochemistry, to provide insight into the microbial pathways and interactions that underpin carbon cycling,” Mahmoudi wrote.

Mahmoudi’s research is crucial for understanding how climate change affects the ability of marine environments to store carbon. She will be further discussing the human impact on natural ecosystems in her class, The Evolving Earth (ENVR 202), in Winter 2019. Her class will also touch on how micro and macro-organisms evolved and shaped our planet.

Mahmoudi enjoys visiting historical sites and archaeological ruins. If she were not studying ocean microorganisms she would be working as an archaeologist.

“I have always been fascinated by past civilizations and societies that have their own unique customs and traditions,” Mahmoudi said.

For now, Mahmoudi fulfills this fascination by enjoying Montreal’s diversity, which she considers to be one of the richest in North America.

Eric McCalla: Chemistry

As a Quebec native and McGill alumnus, Eric McCalla is happy to be returning to his alma mater to join the Department of Chemistry.

After receiving his Master’s degree, McCalla decided to become a high school teacher before going back to graduate school. What initially started as a short-term plan turned into an eight-year teaching stint, as McCalla found a passion for education. Now, after completing a PhD at Dalhousie and two post doctoral degrees in Paris and Minneapolis, McCalla considers himself fortunate to have the best of both worlds at McGill: Research and teaching.

McCalla offered some personal advice to students struggling to decide on a career.

“It’s important for [you] to realize that you’ve got time to change your minds along the way and still turn out ok,” McCalla said.

McCalla is excited to be teaching a new course at McGill: Chemistry of Energy, Storage, and Utilization (CHEM 319). This topic ties well into his own research, which focuses on designing advanced materials. Currently, McCalla’s lab investigates new materials to make longer-lasting batteries. Through an efficient screening process, McCalla’s lab is discovering novel materials in the hopes of replacing the flammable liquid electrolytes currently found in batteries with a solid medium.

Editorial, Opinion

Toward a more democratically engaged student body

by The McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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In six days, universities across the province—McGill included—will be cancelling classes for Quebec’s  provincial election day. Many students may already be making plans to enjoy the cool fall weather or catch up on the classes they missed during add/drop. Considerably fewer may be actively planning to vote. But, enjoying the long weekend and fulfilling civic duties are not mutually exclusive—voting can be simple and convenient, and McGill students have a responsibility to be engaged in their community.

McGill students, even those without roots in Quebec, do not live in a bubble. While some students may be in the province temporarily, the student community is not, and their interests are at stake. The Parti Libéral du Québec (PLQ), the Parti Québécois (PQ), and Québec Solidaire (QS) have all promised increased funding for post-secondary institutions, and the latter two have pledged to make tuition free. Immigration has been the election’s defining concern, with the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) and the PLQ fiercely debating whether to cut the number of new immigrants accepted to Quebec by 20–24 per cent—a decision that could impact international students’ futures. Even issues that are not explicitly specific to students, like environmentalism and austerity, should be strong motivators for young people to cast a ballot.

When students do get involved, the impact can be significant. Student groups in Quebec, including the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) and Our Turn National Action Plan, a group advocating for the improvement of sexual assault policy in Canadian universities, were essential in creating Bill 151, An Act to prevent and fight sexual violence in higher education institutions. The new law requires that all post-secondary institutions “establish a policy to prevent and fight sexual violence.” In April 2018, SSMU and the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) released an open letter to Quebec Minister of Higher Education Hélène David alleging that McGill was in violation of the law. McGill’s recent efforts to improve its reputation with regard to sexual violence did not occur in a vacuum: Progress is the result of politically engaged students advocating for their interests at the provincial level.

Even with only six days until election day, it is not too late to get involved beyond just voting. Campaigns always need people willing to make phone calls, distribute pamphlets, or even do behind-the-scenes logistical work. But participation does not need to be be partisan. Volunteering with non-partisan advocacy groups, such as Apathy is Boring, a non-profit dedicated to improving youth political engagement, or the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), which helps Quebecers find English-language services, are equally valuable ways of engaging with political life.

McGill has made voting easy and accessible. Classes are cancelled on Oct. 1 in accordance with Quebec’s Election Act, and an advance polling station will be open in the Carrefour Sherbrooke residence until Sept. 27. To be eligible to vote, you must be at least 18 years old, a Canadian citizen, and domiciled in Quebec, so some students may be unknowingly eligible to vote.

The 2018 Quebec election is also the first in the province’s history to feature a televised leaders’ debate in English. It has never been easier for McGill students to get informed and get involved.

Good fences make good neighbours—right? (Sabrina Girard Lamas / The McGill Tribune)
Off the Board, Opinion

Tolerate thy neighbour

by Sophie Brzozowski on

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I don’t consider myself to be a selfish or ignorant person. I take some pride in keeping up to date with current events, because I think it’s important to know what’s going on around me. I’m even prouder of the fact that I know most everything there is to know about the people who belong within the narrow radius of my inner circle. Even so, it’s never even occurred to me to pay attention to those individuals who occupy the intermediate space between my loved ones and the world at large.

I met Camille the day I moved into my very first apartment. My parents and I were in the midst of hauling boxes up its rickety, winding staircase when, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed an older woman walking urgently in our direction. She introduced herself as the tenant living in the apartment opposite from mine, and told us that we should knock on her door if ever we needed anything. After she left, my mom and I remarked on how kind it was that she had introduced herself. It seemed like a nice neighbourhood, we agreed; there was a real sense of community.

In the months that followed, Camille was like gum on our proverbial shoe. Once a week or so, she would find a reason to knock on our front door. Sometimes, during the winter months, it was a friendly reminder to shovel our front steps, or a quick, unsolicited lesson on how and when to use our compost bins. She seemed to be everywhere—every time I turned a corner, she would appear, always with an armful of organic groceries and a litany of reminders about bike lock etiquette, the upcoming Daylight saving, or turning off the lights before we left the house. We could hardly believe her nerve sometimes.

Her ubiquity became something of a joke between my roommates and me. She was a fixture in our lives, always on the periphery, hovering over our shoulders. All things considered, it’s strange that it took three whole weeks for it to dawn on me that she had moved out over the summer.

I’ll be honest: I didn’t much like Camille. I didn’t dislike her, but she was just so preachy, so intrusive. Her persistent involvement in my life felt like a direct interference with everything I loved about being 20. It just felt so unfair that I’d moved so far from home, only to find someone new nagging me about chores.

Still, it’s strange to think I’ll probably never see her again, and I find myself wondering if she’s okay. The other day I saw a woman with her same thick grey hair, and when I realized it wasn’t her, I was almost disappointed. Maybe it’s guilt that I’m experiencing. Occasionally, we’d come home to find that the sidewalk in front of our apartment had been shovelled, and I’d always suspected that it was her who did it. Last November, she gave us her kid’s leftover Halloween candy, and I barely even thanked her.

You can tell a lot about a person by how they treat their neighbours. Certainly, the fact that I’d always seen Camille’s endless gestures of good will as acts of trespassing rather than generosity says more about me than it does about her. It’s sad to realize that maybe I’m not as compassionate as I once thought I was, but, then again, growing up is a selfish, all-consuming process. If, when it’s all over, I’m half as thoughtful and generous as the strange lady who once lived across the street from me, I’ll be satisfied.

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