Latest News

a, Features

Altering the face of history

by Jack Neal on

More in a:

ues change over time and so do the institutions that were created for specific purposes over various centuries. As cities expand, they are reorganized and refashioned in manners deemed suitable for the ever-evolving societies that inhabit them. Instead of knocking down and rebuilding infrastructure, many cities have repurposed oft-unused buildings for new uses.

While these projects may revitalize disused spaces, they do not always take into account the building’s pre-existing structural elements, thus overriding its historical and architectural significance in order. In fact, over the past two decades, Montreal underwent a transformation that is changing the interior of its historical value: The retrofitting and refurbishment of its churches into apartments and public spaces, such as gymnasiums and spas.

 

The Wall Street Journal

There is no shortage of churches within the city; Mark Twain said of Montreal, “This is the first time I was ever in a city where you couldn’t throw a brick without breaking a church window.” Of the 2700-plus churches in Montreal, over 400 have closed down for various reasons, and the process is accelerating.

“A church closes every week,” said Denis Boucher, project manager for Héritage Montreal, in an interview with the National Post. “It’s a huge phenomenon.”

According to Boucher, whereas the council’s grants used to be reserved for churches that were used as places of worship, today’s grants are generally used to repurpose Montreal’s closed and often forgotten churches. With the change in direction, the council can help non-profit organizations, municipalities, and even private owners looking to transform old churches.

The empty structures attract private investors, and a number of the historic buildings were subsequently renovated to provide alternative uses for unique places as there is an increasing demand for residential and commercial space. These projects are deemed worthy by Héritage Montreal to receive funding, as the organization’s mandate calls on the provincial and federal government to adopt tax incentive measures to increase investment in architectural heritage and its revitalization and enhancement.

a, Editorial, Opinion

Editorial: The case for a central student hub at McGill

by McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

More in a:

Currently, the University’s academic plan for 2012 to 2017 (detailed in Achieving Strategic Academic Priorities 2012) focuses on improving McGill’s rankings, its research, and thus its attraction and retention of world class students. But such plans do not reflect McGill’s reality as a physical space for students. Despite McGill’s downtown location and limited space for expansion, there is ample room to improve preexisting spaces.

Multipurpose and accessible student spaces should not be viewed as separate from McGill’s strategic goals in terms of improving its ranking. Improving spaces will attract a higher calibre of students, influence the engagement of current students, and redefine McGill’s legacy as students become alumni. The definition of an excellent institution must extend beyond its academic ranking to include the institution’s dedication to improving student living.

A well-designed student space must be a long-term goal of the administration and Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU). The Shatner University Centre, despite its purpose, is not perceived as a space for students to convene. The second-floor cafeteria space is poorly organized and not an attractive destination for students, and the furniture of the main floor lounge is outdated. Seasonal affective disorders are common on campus during the winter months, and isolation is increasingly shown to cause mental health issues, particularly during exam season. There is a clear need for versatile communal spaces that are student-developed and student-oriented.

The majority of existing student spaces are specific to certain groups on campus. Departmental associations have dedicated offices, faculty associations have their own lounges, and even libraries are limited to the students they were designed for. By creating a central hub, all students would have common access to a space for collaborating and participating in the McGill campus community. As these spaces become more exclusive, more must be done to both improve accessibility and create a common space for all students, regardless of field or level of study. McGill and SSMU can follow the example of Ryerson’s new Student Learning Centre, which was designed by students, for students.

Certain areas must also be refurbished to suit the immediate needs of students, and plans must be developed to ensure that spaces can evolve as these needs change. Due to the proliferation of laptop computers, for example, the need for extensive computer labs (such as in the Ferrier computer lab) is not as dire as it was 10 years ago. The time and money spent on creating a space for students will be wasted if they are not used to address student needs. Deciding which spaces to prioritize must be a collaborative process between administrators, associations, and faculties.

Improving spaces will attract a higher calibre of students, influence the engagement of current students, and redefine McGill’s legacy as students become alumni.

Redesigning student spaces need not be a costly endeavour. Such a project could focus on the creative process and finding cost-effective new ways to use the spaces that we already have. The process of consultation should involve students throughout, and has already started through initiatives such as the McGill Spaces Project. SSMU and faculty associations could also foster student engagement by encouraging case competitions for students alongside student consultation, something was done with relative success for the Student Run Cafeteria. Opening up the process of redesgin would ensure that students have a major stake in the project.

In the short-term, student societies are in the best position to address the space deficit and may do so through a fee levy, such as the one passed by the Science Undergraduate Society in Winter 2015. This solution is unreliable, as made evident by the difficulty faced by SSMU in ensuring its building fee passed in Fall 2014. Our student leaders must take steps to lobby McGill to improve student spaces on campus. Ensuring a sustainable and equal improvement of student spaces must be a common goal for all stakeholders.

The creation of a functional and multipurpose student space should not be perceived as dichotomous to improving academic results. Should McGill wish to achieve the same calibre of results as it has historically, it must adapt to a post-secondary standard that emphasizes student living. This must entail the provision of opportunities and spaces that are conducive to student well-being. By continuing to ignore student spaces at the expense of student well-being, McGill will unwittingly perpetuate its image as an enterprise rather than a reputable institution of a quality, well-rounded academic experience.

a, McGill, Montreal, News

Indigenous Awareness Week focuses on truth and reconciliation

by Aislinn Kalob on

More in a:

The Social Equity and Diversity Education Office (SEDE), held its fifth annual Indigenous Awareness Week from Sept. 21 to Sept. 25, with events focusing on themes such as truth and reconciliation, sovereignty, and resisting gendered and state violence. The week was hosted in partnership with on-campus indigenous student groups, including the Aboriginal Law Students’ Association (ALSA), the First Peoples’ House, KANATA, and Indigenous Student Alliance.

The first panel event of the week  featured Elder Fred Kelly (Kizhebowse Mukwaa), a practitioner of Sacred Law, who cleared misconceptions about the ownership of land in Canada.

“Treaties say that we relinquished, surrendered, and ceded our territory,” Kelly said.  “This is impossible [….] the law of the land constitutes you be part of that land.  How can you sell yourself, how can you sell your grandmother? You belong to it; you can only agree to share.  That’s what we did.”

Kelly sees a path for the future of Canadian and indigenous legal reconciliation.

“You are going to start to see traditional law […] and how it must equate with other laws,” Kelly said.  “How you’re going to do that is to harmonize the administration of these laws, because Canada’s laws are not for negotiation, and we’re not interested in that.”

Michael Loft, associate professor of Social Work at McGill, spoke to the responsibility of the Canadian government to honour treaties made with indigenous peoples, in his speech “Reflections on Truth and Reconciliation,” on Thursday evening.

“[Indigenous people] gave up plenty of land,” he said. “We made agreements with the Crown […] to get medicine, to get food […] because our world was changing, and we knew that. Modernity was happening and the chiefs knew that [….] Those agreements were eventually forgotten. But we don’t forget them [….] That’s what I expect out of the Canadian state, to honour those treaties.”

Another key aspect of reconciliation, according to Loft, is developing mutual respect between indigenous communities and the Canadian government. Loft illustrated that there had been respect between 16th Century explorers and indigenous communities.

“If we could get back to how we were doing things in 1534, with Cartier– we fed his men, we healed them from scurvy,” he said.  “Let’s get back to that. That’s what you call respect. We didn’t have to act like that, but we did.”

In closing, Loft called for an increased cooperation from the Canadian population on indigenous issues.

“You guys aren’t [sic] going away, we’re not going away,” he said. “You have to learn to cooperate, get something solved. We can’t go on the way things are right now.”

Other events held throughout the week included film screenings, creative workshops open to students and faculty, and to conclude, a two-day symposium entitled “Resisting Gendered and State Violence: Indigenous Women’s Activism.”

Allan Vicaire, indigenous education advisor at SEDE and main organizer of Indigenous Awareness Week, pointed to the importance of continuing to promote indigenous awareness at McGill.

“We continue to always do educational programming, but sometimes it’s not enough to just educate,” he said. “We need to really push for that inclusive environment by shifting the culture, how we interact with one another.”

SEDE will host their “Safer Spaces: Indigenous Perspectives” workshop, on Oct. 19.  It will cover topics such as the colonial history of Canada, and the current relationship between indigenous people and the federal and provincial governments.

“It's really important that the community really better understands who we are, and how we came to be where we are today,” Vicaire said.  “Also, to highlight over the last years the resilience and how we've persevered to keep our culture and identity alive.”

Additional reporting by Shrinkhala Dawadi

MYOCARDITIS Dancers
a, Arts & Entertainment, Theatre

Beyond street dance

by Greta Rainbow on

More in a:

An amber glow cut through the darkness, illuminating only part of the stage between floor and ceiling. Music began to thunder, and hands suddenly shot up, puncturing the glow, writhing on their own for a few moments before their bodies joined. This is not contemporary dance; this is dance in a contemporary world.

PHASE 1 and MYOCARDITIS are two urban contemporary dance groups who have derived their moves from ‘60s and ‘70s urban subcultures in the U.S. that do not require an audience sitting in the dark to empower and invigorate the individual dancer. Rather, viewers are fortunate enough to be privy to the emotion and expression found in the vibrating, rhythmic bodies, turning the role of the spectator on its head.

“The party is the foundation,” PHASE 1 choreographer and dancer Martine Bruneau says of “waacking,” a style of dance characterized by jerking limb movements that began in the LGBT community and the club scene. When dancing at a party, there is no narrative or metaphor, nor a forced adherence to a formal style. The motive is to impress and to enjoy.

“There is no wrong or right in freestyle,” explained a MYOCARDITIS dancer. “But I always say there’s ugly and attractive.”

PHASE 1 effectively brought this to a performance space in the 21st century. As dancers focus on their propelling arms and snapping legs, responding to the smallest intricacies of the music, the audience gets to experience the sense of peeking through the curtain and glimpsing their chaotic and throbbing joy.

When dancing at a party, there is no narrative or metaphor, nor a forced adherence to a formal style. The motive is to impress and to enjoy.

On the tile floors of the lobby, girls in cigarette pants mimicked the dancers of PHASE 1—knees bending and ankles twisting across black and white hexagons. A man slid his tennis shoes across the tile, jumping up to the first step of the marble staircase to make room for friends who swayed, sauntered, and crumped their way over. His arms swung out, nearly hitting a potted palm and the woman sitting beside it, who was doing a dance of her own. Another girl jutted out one hip and threw her shoulders back, miming the feeling they evoked. It is natural to compare this to the tight hair buns and cracked pointe shoes of the ballet world, and the exclusivity that comes with it.

MYOCARDITIS choreographer and dancer Handy “Monstapop” Yacinthe emphasized that “street dance is still intelligent.” Yacinthe is considered a leader in the development of Montreal’s current “popping” community. Popping is a technique that originated in northern California in the ‘70s as a physical response to soul and funk music. During the dance, muscles alternate between loosening and tensing, creating a jerk-like effect that transforms the dancers into something at once human and mechanical. On stage, lighting, length, and mise-en-scène all contributed to the performance, but the overall attitude of the performance stressed that street dance should never be considered a lesser form.

Street dance is raw—it’s a talent that receives constant cheers from the audience when dancers hit the floor at the same time as the bass, and twist so gracefully it seems like they’re all tendon and no bone. Today there is a prevalence of conceptual art and a desperation to create something authentic. It is possible to interpret PHASE 1 and MYOCARDITIS as modern dance productions, but this would be a misunderstanding. Yacinthe is a popper, a locker, and a freestyler who says he, “cannot have influence from something I do not know.” This “something” is the study of contemporary dance. This is not an ode to an era, or even an avant-garde modern production. This is a style seen on the streets, on the competitive battle-stages, and for the audience as a performance.

quarterbacks nfl
a, Football, Sports

Shooting the breeze: Rising sophomore quarterbacks in the NFL

by Jeff Bridges, Zach Lanys, Elie Waitzer, and Zikomo Smith on

More in a:

Derek Carr – Oakland Raiders

The Raiders are a team on the rise, and they may just have the best young quarterback in the NFL to boot. Armed with a quality offensive coordinator in Bill Musgrave and a stud wide receiver in the making in Amari Cooper, Derek Carr is more than capable of leading the NFL's laughing stock franchise back to relevance. The 24-year-old from Fresno State has a strong, accurate arm and good mobility in the pocket, passing for 3,270 yards and 21 touchdowns in a chaotic rookie season in Oakland. Carr has also shown the advanced ability to read play coverages and as a result has only 12 of his passes picked off last year. With expectations rising for 2015, the sophomore quarterback went a long way in silencing his critics with a dynamite performance last week versus the Baltimore Ravens. Carr completed 65 per cent of his passes, throwing for 351 yards, three touchdowns and only one interception. The catchphrase of the late and legendary Raiders' coach, general manager and owner Al Davis was "Just win, baby!" With Derek Carr behind centre, fans in Oakland should expect to see many wins to come in the near future.

– Jeff Bridges

Blake Bortles – Jacksonville Jaguars

Blake Bortles was not the name Jacksonville fans were hoping to hear out of Commissioner Roger Goodells’ mouth during the 2014 draft. But Bortles flashed his immense potential in his first year in the league and cut short Jags fan’s previous longing for Cleveland bound Johnny Manziel. Last season, Bortles led /all/ quarterbacks in the league with an average of 7.5 yards per carry, proving he’s a threat not only in the air, but also on the ground. At 6’5” and 232 pounds, Bortles has the prototypical size for a starting quarterback and consistently draws comparisons to one of the best in the business: Two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger. While he does have room to improve, Bortles has the talent and athleticism needed to excel at the professional level. If his offensive line can keep him off the ground, and his skill position players continue to grow with him, Blake Bortles and the Jags should be making waves in the AFC in the coming years.

– Zach Lanys

Teddy Bridgewater – Minnesota Vikings

Bridgewater was the third quarterback to come off the board in 2014, taken after Bortles and Manziel. The Louisville star was a pleasant surprise early in the season, but it wasn’t until Week 14 against the Jets that Vikings fans got a taste of what he was capable of. Pinned up against his own end zone, Bridgewater completed an 87-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jarius Wright to win the game. It would be the second longest pass thrown all season, and Bridgewater would end his rookie campaign with the third-most game winning drives in the NFL. His 64.4 pass completion percentage was good for 11th in the league, putting him above Tom Brady, Andy Dalton, and Andrew Luck. Aside from Mike Wallace, Bridgewater’s receiving options are pretty thin this season, but through two games he has recorded a 74 per cent completion rate. With Bridgewater quickly maturing into one of the league’s most accurate passers, Adrian Peterson may finally have a partner in crime that can help him get the Super Bowl ring he deserves.

– Elie Waitzer

Johnny Manziel – Cleveland Browns

Johnny Manziel can straight out ball. His draft profile on the NFL’s website described him as “a once-in-a-generation, run-around, ad-lib, sandlot-style quarterback who consistently won games.” Manziel is perfect for the Cleveland Browns: He is a playmaker on a team with little offensive talent. His game changing abilities were on display for the Browns against the Tennessee Titans in week two; The Heisman Trophy winner hit receiver Travis Benjamin for two touchdowns of 60 and 50 yards, respectively. Manziel’s elusiveness and gun-slinging attitude makes him a potential fan favourite in terms of drama, but his well-documented immaturity shouldn’t spill over into his sophomore year. He went to alcohol rehab, coaches are praising his new work ethic, and he has space to develop his game as Josh McCown’s backup. Given time, Johnny Football will live up to his moniker and be the most exciting quarterback in the league.

– Ziko Smith

a, Out on the Town, Student Life

Life beyond the McGill bubble

by Audrey Carleton on

More in a:

Attending university in the heart of downtown Montreal is a luxury McGill students commonly take for granted. Often it becomes far too easy to become chained to campus and trapped in the “McGill bubble.” In an effort to combat this pitfall, the Tribune compiled a list of some of the best things to do in four of the most eclectic neighbourhoods surrounding downtown.

Plateau Mont-Royal

 

East of campus, past the McGill Ghetto, emerges the Plateau Mont-Royal, more commonly known as “the Plateau.” The homey brownstone flats that are characteristic of this calm neighborhood give it a suburban feel that attracts a lot of McGill students. In keeping with the calmer vibe of the Plateau, the area is spotted with little parks, the most notable of which is Parc La Fontaine, which stretches from Rue Sherbrooke to Rue Rachel, and contains an ideal combination of walking paths, grassy spots for picnicking, and a pond. An eastbound bike ride along the two-way bike lanes of Rue Rachel will land you at the park, but not without passing other Plateau hot spots such as La Banquise. This is one of the most famous poutine restaurants in Montréal, where, 24 hours a day, restaurant-goers can custom order poutine with a vast selection of vegetable and meat toppings, and even vegan sauce and vegan cheese curds. Schwartz’s Deli, on Boulevard Saint-Laurent and Rue Napoléon, is one of the oldest delis in Canada, and thus attracts tourists from across the country for its famous smoked meat. For non-food related activities, simply walking around the Plateau can provide entertainment and peruse the wide variety of street art that covers its walls, alleyways and shops.

The Mile End

 

Offering a similar calm, artsy vibe to that of the Plateau, the Mile End is most notably a hub for young hipsters. Though its borders are somewhat debatable, in general terms the Mile End is located just north of the Plateau.

In keeping with the hipster vibe of the Mile End, this neighborhood is home to a lot of cafés and coffee shops. Among them is Chez Boris, a café that specializes in handmade Russian doughnuts, made-to-order on the spot. Le Depanneur, located on Avenue de l’Esplanade and Rue Bernard Ouest is another well-known café in the Mile End, known for its grilled cheeses and for hosting live music from local artists at all hours of the day to accompany patrons’ meals. For students familiar with the McGill Ghetto and seeking a home away from home, the other Lola Rosa is on Avenue du Parc, featuring not only more space for sitting, but a more expansive menu. Among other vegetarian-friendly restaurants in the Mile End is Aux Vivres, a vegan restaurant located on rue Saint-Laurent and Rue Villenueve Ouest with an extensive menu of vegan dishes that use meat and dairy substitutes in popular dishes that vegans would not otherwise be able to eat. The Mile End is also the perfect place to find a wood-fired Montréal bagel, as it is home to both St. Viateur Bagel and Fairmount Bagel—arguably the two best bagel shops in Montreal.

St-Henri

 

Due to Solin Hall, the St. Henri neighbourhood garners a fair amount of attention from McGill students. Originally a largely working class centre of industry, St. Henri has undergone recent development and is often described as an ‘up-and-coming’ neighbourhood as more trendy restaurants, shops and living complexes migrate to the area.

St. Henri is home to Atwater Market, one of the city’s largest and most popular outdoor markets. Located along Avenue Atwater, the market provides local vendors with space to sell plants, fresh vegetables, meats, cheeses, and other fresh foods on a daily basis, year-round. The market is also located conveniently near the Lachine Canal, an offshoot of the Saint-Laurent river that stretches 14.5 kilometers from the Old Port of Montréal to Lac Saint-Louis.

The most notable street for social life in St. Henri is Rue Notre-Dame, along which one can find restaurants like Tuck Shop, a popular bistro with a combination of French and Italian food that sits on almost every internet list of top Montreal restaurants. Another stand-out restaurant is Green Spot, a ‘greasy spoon’ diner located on Rue Notre Dame and Avenue Greene. It has been open in St. Henri for a long time, and is thus another local favourite, serving a wide array of breakfast dishes, fried foods, and poutine. 

The Gay Village

 

Located east of downtown, the Gay Village—commonly shortened to “The Village”—is a hub for Montreal’s LGBT community. The Gay Village is not only where Montreal’s Pride Festival takes place every year, but it is also home to the pedestrian-only section of Rue Sainte-Catherine that is strung with hanging pink ball ornaments for the duration of June to September.

Some of Montreal’s best nightlife thrives in the Gay Village. Olympia nightclub, a three-floor venue that is home to many of McGill’s Frosh events, is located in the Village along Rue Sainte-Catherine. Sky and Unity are two other popular gay clubs in the Village, both with multiple floors and outdoor patios, offering not just extra space but a multitude of ambiances for varied clubbing needs and desires.

While there is a vast selection of activities to do at night in the Gay Village, it’s equally difficult to get bored during the day. It is home to some of Montréal’s best coffee shops, like Porquois Pas Espresso Bar, known for their house blend almond milk used in most of their drinks. Also located in The Village is Le Milieu, a smaller café and art co-op run entirely by volunteers. Here, the art supplies for sale are all donated upcycled materials, and are sold on a name-your-price basis. The co-op also holds craft, art, and cooking workshops run by co-op volunteers, and offers comfortable space for locals to sit and enjoy knitting and craft in addition to a light coffee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

La Sala Rossa
a, Arts & Entertainment, Music

Hidden venues of Montreal

by Amber Hord on

More in a:

Le Cagibi 

Located in the Mile End, Le Cagibi is a coffeehouse and vegetarian restaurant by day and a bar and concert venue by night. Shows are held in the back room where listeners can settle into a cozy armchair with a drink and, depending on the night, enjoy a multitude of genres from folk and acoustic to experimental acts. The events are usually free or by donation, and when the show is over, guests can head around the corner for some late night munchies at St-Viateur bagel; the perfect end to a perfect night!

La Sala Rossa 

La Sala Rossa is much more than amazing sangria. Above the delicious Spanish restaurant is a classic concert venue featuring velvet curtains, chandeliers, and a bar in the rear for those in the mood to chill out and have a drink. La Sala Rossa hosts anything from jazz to indie rock, but the shows can range all the way to a burlesque performance or a breakdance competition. This venue caters to all interests, so no matter who attends, La Sala Rossa will have the perfect event. Cover varies from free to $30 depending on the artist, but the Thursday night flamenco show is always free.

Casa Del Popolo 

Venture into Casa Del Popolo, through a small, dark hallway, and suddenly a room full of concert posters, live music, and good vibes emerge. After checking out the band, one can head to the terrace to relax and have a drink. Casa Del Popolo hosts a variety of artists from electronic to indie. Mondays and Tuesdays are always free, and cover for the rest of the week is either pay-what-you-can or between $5 to $25.  Monthly events including a spoken word night and a Comix Jam—where artists come together to create impromptu graphic art—allowing patrons to both experience or create art on any given night.

W()MB 

W()MB is a new space run by a collective of seven Montreal musicians and artists. The entertainment ranges from experimental music acts and movie projection nights, to drone installations and art shows. The appearance of the space changes based on the act, so there is always a fresh feel. Cover varies depending on the artist and type of event, and events range from the standard two-hour show to all night long.

Le P’tit Bar 

Le P’tit Bar is one of the smallest and most charming venues in Montreal. Those searching for the authentic Quebecois experience need look no further. Most of the bands are local and so is the crowd. The venue only holds about 30 people, making it a great place for a date or a night out with a few friends. There are shows every day of the week and they are typically pay-what-you-can. 

a, Recipes, Student Life

Recipes: Stuffed roast acorn squash

by Liz Willcock on

More in a:

Fall has finally reached Montreal, and while this means Instagram feeds will be filled to the brim with pictures of leaves and pumpkin spice lattes, it also means this is the best time of year to reap Mother Nature’s produce. Fruits and vegetables that have been growing all summer are being pulled from the ground, and the markets are now filled with local kale, pumpkin, cauliflower, zucchini and apples, to name a few. In fact, local produce is so easily accessible near McGill campus, that there’s really no reason to not be filling a basket with seasonal goods. From the McGill Farmers Market every Thursday, to one of Montreal’s food box schemes such as Lufa Farms, Saintropol Roulant, or the Good Food Box, getting fruits and vegetables that are in season is easy as ever.

Although the typical McGill undergraduate has no problem writing a five-page paper at the last minute, when confronted with an acorn squash they succumb to complete and utter confusion. Thankfully, the Tribune has deconstructed the mystery behind one of fall’s greatest gourds. Although some may think that an acorn squash is just a shrivelled up pumpkin, they are actually filled with immune system boosting vitamins, and are incredibly easy to bake. What’s more, this recipe is easily adaptable, and can be made with whatever kitchen staple one has on hand—just slip it into the oven and wait for the house to be filled with the smell of real pumpkin spice.

This recipe does not have traditional measurements, so feel free to give and take according to whatever looks interesting at the market, or perhaps more realistically whatever needs to be cleared out of the back of the fridge.

[URIS id=36602]

 

 

 

Ingredients

1 winter squash

3 cups of filling (see below)

(1 squash serves 2)

Filling

1/2 cup—sausage, chicken, or tempeh and

baked tofu for any vegetarians.

2 cups vegetables —onions, mushrooms, zucchini, greens, or

anything that can be found at the market

1/2 cup cooked grains and/or nuts—examples include barley, quinoa, millet, farro, rice, walnuts, almonds, or pecans

1 to 3 teaspoons herbs or spices such as paprika, cumin, coriander, and cayenne

Topping

1/2 to 1 cup shredded cheese such as goat cheese or Parmesan

 

 

 

Instructions

 

Preheat the oven to 400 °F/205 °C. Slice the squash in half from stem to root and scoop out the seeds. Place the squash face up on a baking tray and drizzle with olive oil and salt.

Roast for about 35 to 50 minutes or until your squash is tender in the middle and browned around the edges. Flip face down before removing to slightly char the outside.

While the squash is roasting, prepare the filling. This is a great place to combine leftovers from other meals (like cooked chicken, quinoa or roasted vegetables). Sauté onions for three minutes with spices, add vegetables and protein, and cook until tender. Taste and adjust the spices, salt, and pepper based on personal preference.

Pull the squash out of the oven and flip the cooked squash halves so they form bowls. Divide the filling between the halves, and cover with a sprinkling of cheese.

Place these back in the oven until they are hot and the cheese has melted. Serve and enjoy!

(Recipe adapted from the kitchn)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a, McGill, Montreal, News

MCLIU ratifies first collective agreement

by Nick Milum on

More in a:

On Friday, Sept. 18, the Special General Assembly of the McGill Course Lecturers and Instructors Union (MCLIU) met to vote on the proposed version of the union’s first collective agreement. The agreement outlines a number of important points between the employer, McGill, and the MCLIU, including seniority, hiring processes, salary and paid sick leave. The agreement  passed with 96 per cent of the vote. 

MCLIU President Raad Jassim played a major role in the formation of the agreement and explained the process behind crafting the articles.

“We went to the Minister of Labour and requested a conciliator, and we worked with them for about a year […]” Jassim said.  “Then, we requested an arbitrator and the arbitrator helped with a few more articles. And finally it looked like we were able to do it on our own […] and we were able to actually come up with our collective agreement together.”

The collective agreement outlined a number of administrative points between McGill, and the MCLIU, including seniority, hiring processes, salary, and paid sick leave. It also outlined the number of courses a course lecturer is allowed to teach per year.

“We can teach up to seven courses a year […] so that’s a great achievement for our course lecturers,” Jassim said. “Other universities, such as Concordia, use just two courses per semester as their max. You can go beyond seven at McGill but you will not accrue seniority from those courses.”

The Sept. 18 vote allowed the MCLIU to pass the collective agreement in principle. Now, McGill and the MCLIU must formalize the agreement so that it can be officially signed. Robert Comeau, the director of labour and employee relations in McGill’s human resources department, has been involved in the ongoing negotiation process.

“What we’re having to do now is to write the official collective agreement, because when we negotiate, a lot of times either the employer or the union will just drop some of the proposals, so the numbering is wrong,” he said. “Second […] we have to come up with a French and English version [….] So we have to finalize those things to be able to officially sign, and then what we have to do is file it with the labour board to become official.”

The English version of the collective agreement is slated to be finished before the end of this week, which will allow for the official collective agreement to be signed within the coming  weeks.

MCLIU Grievance Officer Richard Cooper has been involved in the negotiations process for eight years, and helped to form the union in 2011.  

“Through the process of seniority and how seniority will affect the allocation of courses, [the collective agreement provides] a measure of job security that we didn’t have before,” Cooper said. 

While the collective agreement will be in place for three years, the union is already thinking ahead to prepare for when negotiations come around again.  

“The major issue that we’re going to have to deal with now is that McGill course lecturers are still at the [lower] end of the salary scale in relation to other universities in the province,” Cooper said. “There are always complaints about budget constraints so we’re going to have to work on that.” 

a, McGill, Montreal, News

Senate raises concerns over the future of research funding

by Ziko Smith on

More in a:

Senate held its first meeting of the year and received reports on the medical program’s probationary status, biomedical research funding, and cases of sexual assault and harassment at McGill. 

Undergraduate medical program probation

Dean of Medicine and Vice-Principal of Health Affairs, Dr. David Eidelman, praised the Faculty of Medicine’s response to the undergraduate program’s probation this past June, which came as a result of its failure to meet 24 standards of accreditation, including violations to student workload policies and failures to monitor curriculums.

“Senate will know that the faculty has been quite transparent […] and we have published online all of the documents […] from the accreditation bodies,” Eidelman said. “We quickly established a working chair that meets every two weeks to make sure that we have a response to every one of the components cited.”

McGill’s undergraduate medical program will submit its plan to address the issues cited by the accreditation bodies by December 2015, and submit new documents of accreditation in November 2016. The accreditation bodies will visit McGill in February 2017 to judge whether McGill has corrected the issues. Eidelman expressed confidence that McGill’s Faculty of Medicine would maintain their international reputation. 

Annual report on the Policy on Harassment, Sexual Harassment, and Discrimination Prohibited by Law

Associate Provost (Policies, Procedures and Equity) Angela Campbell stated there were 23 reported cases of harassment in the last academic year, down from the yearly average of 36. 

Arts Senator Erin Sobat asked if the decrease in reported cases of harassment resulted from a general lack of knowledge of McGill’s harassment policy. He cited a recent survey that suggested a rise in sexual assault complaints among McGill students, and expressed concern that students do not understand the reporting procedures.

“I am wondering if the decrease is sufficient to this whole process,” Sobat said, “[or] if [there is] a lack of knowledge of this process [and accessibility] to members of [the McGill] community”.

Campbell, however, warned against speculation. She noted that the decrease in reported cases of harassment could be a result of the policy’s proactive approach towards sexual assault awareness.

“It is not necessarily the case that there is less harassment – the policy [also] is pre-emptive so it aims to prevent harassment,” Campbell said. “There is an increased sensitivity to issues with respect to harassment. I don’t think it is fair to say that a rise in sexual assault complaints would trigger […] a rise in complaints in harassment [in general]; someone who is sexually assaulted would not want a discrimination and harassment [complaint].”

The future of biomedical research in Canada

Faculty of Medicine Senators Terrence Hebert and Dan Bernard voiced concerns over the new Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Foundation funding scheme for biomedical research, piloted in mid-July. 

“Though CIHR committed to […] 450-600 [transitional open operating grants programs] proposals, only 383 grants were ultimately awarded, and each endured a budget cut of almost 30 per cent,” Hebert and Bernard wrote in their question to the Senate. “Unfortunately, these numbers cannot be construed as anomalies.” 

McGill Principal Suzanne Fortier disagreed with Herbert and Bernard, arguing that funding had flatlined. 

“I, with all due respect, do not agree,” Fortier said. “From all I have seen from the data I don’t believe they have had a steep decline, [rather] they have not had an increase.”

Fortier stated that the Canadian medical sector at large does not have enough funding.

“There is not enough money to support all of the excellence […] in the health sector,” she said. “We continue to [meet] with various members of government […] so that our message is heard.”

Hebert advocated a proactive response to what he sees as a funding crisis in Canada.

“We have to go at the real problem which is […] a steep decline [in funding] in the last couple of years,” Hebert said. “How do we transmit that message to a broader audience, […] what is McGill going to do if we cannot improve that?”

Herbert also expressed concern about the impact on faculty members.

“Young faculty are expected to develop an independent research program, but all the funding seems to be tailored towards […] industry driven and government priority type research,” Herbert stated. “The funding situation should be taken into consideration when evaluating our young faculty.”

Fortier, however, said that she wanted to compile and analyze more data that will inform the discussion on research grants. 

1 … 815 816 817 818 819 … 1,363

Read the latest issue

Read the latest issue