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Arts & Entertainment, Music

MCGE Lilith Fair lights up the night

by Dana Prather on

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Faced with the frigid winter winds and 5:00 p.m. sunsets of January in Montreal, spending a Wednesday evening staying in, staying warm, and staving off the mid-week slump may seem inevitable. Yet on Jan. 15, over 250 students and community members braved the elements and gathered in La Sala Rossa to attend the McGill Collective for Gender Equality’s (MCGE) Lilith Fair, a night of live music inspired by the groundbreaking feminist music festival of the same name.

The original Lilith Fair was a watershed moment for women in music. Conceived and helmed by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, the touring summer festival featured a lineup of all-women musicians such as the Indigo Girls, Alanis Morissette, and Tracy Chapman. In doing so, the festival aimed to defy the music industry’s misogynistic tendency to pit women against each other and instead cultivate a supportive community of artists and a concert environment free from sexual harassment. 

Critiques of the festival’s ethos were plentiful. Some were merited—the festival’s first lineup was overwhelmingly white—while others were clearly steeped in homophobia and misogyny. Still, Lilith Fair was an unquestionable success; despite only running for three summers between 1997 and 1999, Lilith Fair grossed over $52 million USD. 

To honour the festival’s legacy, co-organizers Dre Pupovac, U2 Arts, and Alex Leitman, U2 Science, recruited five local acts—Revi my Beloved, Lane Ellis, Clothilde, Hanako, and Frown Line— fronted by women and non-binary artists to co-headline the event. From the audience’s excited buzz, as Pupovac introduced the event, it was clear that Lilith Fair’s mission continues to resonate deeply. 

“We’re living in times in which we’re watching as women right across the border are fearing for their reproductive healthcare/education rights and feeling as though they’ve lost control over what happens to their own bodies,” Revi wrote in a message to The Tribune, reflecting on the importance of the festival.  “As long as women feel threatened or powerless, creating safe spaces for women will always be important, even if it’s just to listen to rock music.” 

The first act saw Revi my Beloved’s driving drum beats and infectious energy set the tone for what was sure to be a wild evening. The audience cheered. The stage lights flashed. Then, the room went dark. 

What we would soon discover was a neighbourhood-wide power outage had brought the event to a screeching halt. However, the organizers quickly sprang into action.

“In the moment, I kind of just locked into problem-solving mode, so I didn’t have time to think too much,” explained Pupovac. “It was just, like, okay—what do we do?” 

Within minutes, MCGE volunteers had illuminated Lane Ellis with their phone flashlights as the singer performed acoustic versions of her own songs and a stunning rendition of  “Linger” by The Cranberries. The organizers then invited anyone who wanted to hop onstage and sing to do so, leading to an impromptu singalong until they announced the event’s postponement. 

Eager to host Lilith Fair as intended and allow the remaining acts the chance to perform, the organizers worked tirelessly to reschedule, and just four days later, the event was back up and running. Despite the slightly lower turnout, audiences were just as enthusiastic, if not more, the second time around. Ellis’ airy tones and introspective lyrics had lent themselves well to a stripped-back performance, but hearing her songs as intended provoked raucous cheers from the crowd. By contrast, Hanako’s, U2 Arts, blend of folk and dream pop left the room in a reverent hush. Lilith Fair officially wrapped up just after midnight, leaving a tired, beaming crowd to disperse into the chilly night, chatting about when the next Lilith Fair might be. 

“If [women and other marginalized groups] want safe spaces, […] no one’s gonna do it for us,” Avery Albert, a community member who came out to support both versions of the event, reflected.  “We really have to cultivate those spaces [ourselves].” 

Local Stories, Student Life

The ups and downs of living with friends

by Simona Culotta and Zoya Mirza on

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Transitioning from living in our family’s home to sharing a space with peers is already a dramatic shift and challenge to navigate. On top of this, we tend to choose the people who we most get along with or enjoy the presence of—our friends. While the idea of living with your best friends can be exciting at first, it doesn’t take long for the honeymoon phase to fizzle out as you discover each other’s quirks, habits, and, inevitably, flaws.

With this in mind, we wanted to explore how McGill students navigate living with their friends long-term, and the real question—if they recommend it. Exchange student Manuela Almenara talked about her experience living with four other girls who also happen to be her friends from back home in Madrid, who decided to do an exchange program at McGill together.

“We’re all friends, so we’re less nitpicky with things and more at ease with each other—we all know each other very well. We’re doing the exchange program together, we’re in it together and are able to work things out,” Almenara said.

Almenara emphasized that living with friends is beneficial for her because their shared history allows them to better adapt to each other’s preferences and resolve issues more smoothly.

Ollie Scott-Hansen, U1 Arts, also talked about the positive side of living with your friends.

“I feel like it helps with problem-solving a lot more as we know each other well and know that nothing is really ever that deep,” Scott-Hansen told The Tribune.

Despite Scott-Hansen and Almenara’s positive experiences, other students had rockier times living with their close friends. Shumyle Shahid, U1 Arts, emphasized how problems actually arose more easily because she chose friends for roommates:

“I feel that it contributed to more conflict as small issues can have overly emotional resonance,” she said.  “I would advise myself to trust my gut and look at long-term practicality rather than short-term fun. I would also advise myself to never live with best friends.”

Looking back, Shahid highlighted the discomfort that can arise when bringing up issues, such as messes or noise, with roommates who are also your friends. It adds a layer of complexity, as emotions and the health of the friendship must be considered when addressing roommate-specific issues. 

Almenara emphasized that, in situations like this, it’s key to maintain solid boundaries and clear expectations—even with the best of friends.

“We’re friends, but at the end of the day, we’re also roommates, and it’s important to keep that line clear and respect certain things,” Almenara said.

She also mentioned how she learned patience, noting that it’s an important skill to develop when living with roommates, regardless of whether they’re good friends. 

Ammie Dae, U1 Arts, who chose unknown roommates, shared her perspective on navigating this unique living arrangement. She learned to emphasize clear communication, given how unfamiliar she was with her roommates. Although she noted that this was a skill that takes practice, she still has room for improvement. 

“Honestly, to be more firm about communicating my dissatisfactions, I may not always have another roommate willing to deal with it on my behalf,” Almenara said.

Dae also noted that shared rules promote respect and prevent one roommate from bearing the responsibility of addressing issues alone.

Many of the issues we worry about or hesitate to bring up with our roommates often aren’t as daunting as they seem. As suggested by Scott-Hansen, effective communication can go a long way in improving everyone’s experience and well-being in the house.

“Always trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, do something about it, don’t ignore it. If something bothers you, do something. It doesn’t take much to solve small problems that seem big,” Scott-Hansen added.

News

Supreme Court of Canada denies Mohawk Mothers’ appeal

by Jasjot Grewal on

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The Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear an appeal from the Kanien’kehá:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers) on Jan. 15. The Mothers filed a motion with the Court on Oct. 15, seeking a comprehensive investigation into possible unmarked graves at the site of McGill’s New Vic Project, and a reinstatement of the court-appointed archeological panel that previously oversaw the investigation. 

Since 2015, the Mohawk Mothers have been advocating against the construction and renovation of the New Vic Project, as it is located on the land of the former Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH). The hospital was the site of the Allan Memorial Institute—one of many locations across North America on which the CIA conducted MK-ULTRA mind control and chemical interrogation experiments. On April 6, 2023, the Mothers reached a historic settlement agreement with McGill, the Société québécoise des infrastructures (SQI), RVH, the City of Montreal, and the Attorney General of Canada, which mandated the archival and archeological investigation into the site of the New Vic Project. As per the agreement, this investigation would take place under the oversight of a court-mandated panel of archeologists jointly appointed by all parties. 

In August 2023, the Mothers alleged that McGill disbanded the archeological panel before the investigation had been completed. However, McGill maintains that the panel dissolved after completing its mandate and issuing a final report in July 2023. In November 2023, Justice Gregory Moore ruled to reinstate the panel of archaeologists. In an interview with The Tribune, Mohawk Mother Kwetiio explained what she believed was Justice Moore’s reasoning behind the decision, emphasizing the importance of having a group of third-party archeologists overseeing the investigation. 

“In my understanding, [Justice] Moore agreed with our understanding of the settlement agreement we all signed provided for […] this panel of unbiased professionals who actually run their own working group on unmarked graves. They are the professionals at it. They are the best at it. They were to oversee the project and give recommendations that we were to follow,” Kwetiio said.

McGill successfully appealed this decision in August 2024 at the Court of Appeal of Quebec. The Mohawk Mothers hoped to reverse the Court’s decision at the Supreme Court of Canada, but were denied. 

Kwetiio shared that while she was not surprised by the Supreme Court’s decision, she still believes that the panel’s mandate persists. 

“It was not unexpected [….] I didn’t think that the system that got us in this predicament in the first place was going to be the system to get us out,” she said. “In our eyes, the panel never went anywhere. They still exist.” 

Phillippe Blouin—an anthropologist and associate of the Mothers—emphasized to The Tribune that even though the Mothers’ appeal was denied, the case and investigation remain ongoing. However, he noted that Independent Special Interlocutor Kimberly Murray’s mandate has expired, leaving a fundamental gap in the Canadian legal system’s representation and justice processes for Indigenous folks. Murray was previously involved in the Mothers’ and McGill’s settlement agreement as a third-party mediator. 

“Indigenous peoples are just left alone to fight within this court system with infinite hours of work while the opponents invest public money and tuition money into lawyers using procedural tricks to push back against their claim,” Blouin said. “This is just a case of proving, again, what Kimberly Murray demonstrates in her final report, that there’s a settler amnesty that is enshrined within Canadian law, which makes it almost impossible to make any institution or person accountable for these crimes.”

Blouin believes that emote sensing methods used on the site have found potential evidence, including the three targets identified by search dogs, and several potential grave zones. Despite this, McGill still maintains no evidence has been found—as stated on their communications page for the New Vic Project—meaning that bodies would have to be exhumed to prove their existence. 

 “Since work on the New Vic project has been launched, No human remains, unmarked grave indicators or anomalies of any sort have been found,” McGill’s Media Relations Office wrote to The Tribune.

For Blouin, the Mothers’ ultimate goal is to investigate any potential graves and protect survivors of colonial violence.

“The Mothers are doing this for the truth only. That is their only objective. Denialism […] and asking Indigenous people to effectively dig the grounds to show the actual bodies—this is extremely disrespectful,” he said. “No one would ask that of a white person, to go dig their ancestors in the ground to prove that they’re there.”

Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

David Lynch’s eternal worlds of surreal, torturous beauty

by Annabella Lawlor on

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How does one memorialize a life? Through the images they have created or traces they have left behind? How can one encapsulate an entire legacy from the ashes of bodily presence? Treading in the wake of David Lynch’s recent passing, our world can reconstruct these traces from his transcendental cultural voice, his poignant and subversive narratives, and his eternal mark on the world of contemporary cinema. 

Having been trained as a painter in university, Lynch’s cinematic career began with his 1967 short film Six Men Getting Sick (Six Times), stemming from his desire to witness his creations in motion. It’s a jarring and elusive piece that set in stone decades of poetic nonconformance to the cinematic form. With his painterly past, Lynch frames each shot as if an oiled canvas, shaded by the intense threat of the looming, chiaroscuro-ed darkness. 

In Lost Highway, shadows become a palpable character within each scene, caressing disillusioned expressions of the characters’ gazes and the arching corridors of each shot’s background. Rich in pigment and cinematically expansive, his worlds inhabit the ruinous crevices of our own environment, twisting the figments of our reality into landscapes of surreal inhumanity, and thus manufacturing his films as depraved mirrors of America’s abhorrent corruption and nightmarish truth.

There is an elegiac quality to the disturbing nature of Lynch’s cinematic imagery and narratives. 1977’s Eraserhead’s visually gut-wrenching depiction of the aching fears of unexpected fatherhood illustrates a kindness within monstrosity and a bleakness in conventional humanness. Though visually barbaric in its finale, is a father’s greatest fear not the total unravelling and subsequent death of a child? By submitting his narrative to complete abstraction, Lynch encapsulates the violent, burdening emotionality of bearing parental responsibility. He treats his characters with such grace, allowing the full spectrum of their emotions to be rendered on screen: The gross, the extravagant, the sexual, the intense, the immoral—they all intersect in his larger vision of the world. There is an emotional purity that filters through a “caught” idea, no matter how nauseating or cruel.

In an early interview, Lynch stated, “Ideas are so beautiful and they’re so abstract. And they do exist someplace—I don’t know that there’s a name for it. I think they exist, like fish. And I believe that if you sit quietly, like you’re fishing, you will catch ideas. The real, beautiful big ones swim deep down there so you have to be really quiet and wait for them to come along.”

His worlds are mind-bending and emotionally disconcerting, as if existing within mere miles of another desolate landscape in the Lynchian cinematic universe. The elusive town of Twin Peaks, Washington—from the eponymous franchise—is perhaps Lynch’s most fully realized surrealist environment. Hidden within the seeming tranquillity of the suburban town lies traumatic abstractions of murder, arson, and incest. Twin Peaks cinematically embodies the architectural ideals of the Gesamtkunstwerk, or the “total work of art,” moving a viewer into total immersion with its creeping synthesizers, plaid-skirted characters, and assaulting pigmented visual qualities. 

David Lynch would likely wish for me to finish this piece with a disturbingly close distortion of Laura Dern’s digitally altered, leering grin, but it feels right to end how much of his films do: With a deep realization of the institutionalized falsities of human nature—the idea that the power of unflinching, pure, depraved creativity overcomes the insistent challenges of our utopian-contemporary world. His visionary mind scars my life with such intense meaning, like so many others who have had the privilege of witnessing his films. His accomplishments aren’t only apparent in the recent adjectivization of his last name, but from his endless creative influence on the vastness of visual culture. There will never be anyone as authentically weird, linguistically Midwestern, and boisterously himself as David Lynch.

Behind the Bench, Soccer, Sports

English FA’s decision to scrap cup replays means less economic parity than ever

by Ethan Kahn on

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The Football Association Cup (FA Cup) is the most prestigious domestic tournament in European football. Comprised of teams throughout the tiers of the English football pyramid—from local semi-pro players who participate for fun to the biggest powerhouses of Europe—squads compete in a single-elimination tournament to determine which is the best team in the United Kingdom. Some of the greatest moments in the competition’s history come from David vs. Goliath stories, where the great teams of the country are upended by teams far below them in skill level and ranking. The most famous example is Wigan’s improbable triumph against Manchester City in the 2013 final. 

Wigan’s incredible journey would not be possible without replays, which occur when a game in the tournament ends in a tie. The teams then play another game against one another to decide who advances. Controversially, this past summer, the FA made the decision to do away with cup replays, replacing them with traditional extra time and penalties.

January nearly saw another historic upset, when Vanarama National League (fifth-tier) side Tamworth F.C. played host to perennial Premier League title contenders Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham were the favourites in the third-round match-up but soon realized that breaking down Tamworth was easier said than done. The home side went into the game with the confidence of a team that has nothing to lose, and defended their goal bravely, with the game tied 0-0 after 90 minutes of play.

This is where the controversy comes into the fold. The decision to get rid of replays was made in conversation with Premier League teams and stemmed from their desire to lessen the load of an increasingly burdensome schedule. Top teams can play upwards of 60 games depending on how far they progress in certain competitions. Disturbingly, the lower-tier teams, who receive the most benefits from replays, were not able to give input on the decision to do away with them.  

That would have meant tiny Tamworth would have had a chance to play in front of more than 60,000 fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Besides the incredible experience for both players and fans, the game would have a massive economic benefit for the club: Since home and away sides both take 45 per cent of revenue from ticket sales, Tamworth would be in line to make over £800,000 (more than $1.4 million CAD) following the away game. Considering the fact that Tamworth’s 2024 revenue was £1.6 million, this would have been a crucial economic boost to the club. With an increased emphasis on economic power in the modern game, Tamworth would have been poised to put the funds towards improving their squad.

The decision to do away with cup replays does not just have an economic impact on smaller teams, but it places them at a disadvantage over the course of a game that goes into extra time. Bigger clubs have more squad depth, with more talented bench players than the lower league teams. According to Transfermarkt, the six substitutes that Tottenham brought on over the course of the game had a combined transfer value of around $335 million CAD, which is hundreds of times larger than the value of Tamworth’s entire team. This sort of disparity is exacerbated after 90 gruelling minutes.

In an increasingly polarized footballing world, where top teams are able to spend hundreds of millions of dollars and lower league squads are left out to dry, the FA has embraced the changing tides and aligned themselves fully with the interests of the largest clubs in England. It is disheartening for the players, supporters, and owners of clubs like Tamworth who are left to fend for themselves in a climate that is rigged against them from the start, and this decision will send shockwaves throughout the English football pyramid by stunting the economic growth of small clubs even further.

Cross-Country / Track, Sports

Redbirds jumper reflects on track’s successful UOttawa Winter Classic

by Nour Khouri on

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“We’re really breaking it down to the essence of what makes an athlete,” is how Robbie Gertsner, a first-year Masters student in Physics, describes his sport of track and field. Through the wide variety of events offered in track and field, these demonstrations of human strength and skill are all present under the umbrella of a single sport. For Gertsner, the beauty of track and field lies in the fact that it places raw athleticism centre-stage.

On Jan.18, the McGill University Track Team achieved remarkable success at the uOttawa Winter Classic. The Martlets and Redbirds secured three gold medals each, cementing their reputation as dominant competitive forces. Beyond the medals, the men’s track team etched their names into McGill history by breaking a nine-year-old school record in the men’s 4×800-metre relay. The team, composed of athletes Sean Adams, Ben Gates, Samuel Hepworth, and Devin Chapple, completed the race in an astonishing seven minutes and 37.9 seconds. This performance narrowly eclipsed the previous record of seven minutes and 38.96 seconds, set on Feb. 26, 2016, by a mere 1.06 seconds.

Despite these impressive accomplishments, Gertsner feels track and field does not always receive the recognition it deserves at McGill. 

“Track can go under the radar a little bit, especially at McGill,” he says. “It’s not at the forefront of our sports.”

However, he remains hopeful that moments like these will help raise the profile of McGill’s track athletes and bring greater attention to their dedication and achievements.

Still riding the adrenaline from his recent performance at the 28th Annual McGill Team Challenge, where he broke his personal best in the 60-metre run, Gertsner is already looking ahead to what’s next for his team. When asked about the possibility of bringing home a championship banner, he expressed confidence in their chances. 

“I think we have a pretty good shot at the [Réseau du sport étudiant du québec] RSEQ, which is the Quebec provincial championship,” he shared. “Coming into this weekend, the men’s team was ranked first in the RSEQ, and if we continue to push this momentum, I think we’ll have a really good chance.”

However, when asked about his experiences at McGill’s track team compared to Western University, where he completed his undergraduate program, he highlighted a reality far too familiar across most athletic endeavours at McGill: The lack of team cohesion.

“If I’m being completely honest, I wish that we had more of a collective team spirit,” he says. “When I was at Western’s track team, which has consistently been one of the top teams in the country, we had a very collective team dynamic, which is not quite at that level here at McGill.”  

Gertsner believes that for the team to truly gain the edge over competitors, team members should invest themselves in events they are not used to and make an effort to watch their teammates compete and learn about their successes, which can do much good for the team’s results.

“For example, myself as a jumper, I don’t really know much about the distance or throwing events, but if I take the effort in learning what type of distances and times they are running and throwing,” he said. “I think that’s the key in pushing yourself outside your niche group because that’s what connects us all.” 

However, Gertsner admitted that he has noticed developments: “Now that the season and races have started, it has improved, and people are cheering for each other.”

With the track and field season far from over, the Redbirds and Martlets have time to prove their efforts in forming a stronger team collective and perhaps even bring the Quebec Provincial Championships banner back home. 

Science & Technology

Perfectionism: A blessing or a curse?

by Sarah McDonald on

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At first glance, being a perfectionist may seem like an advantage in a world where productivity and achievement are so highly valued. As a student, what could possibly be better than having the drive to ensure everything you do is done perfectly? 

As it turns out, recent research shows that perfectionism isn’t the asset it might appear to be. This is especially true when it takes on the form of self-critical (SC) perfectionism, which can have detrimental impacts on mental health. SC perfectionism is characterized by constant negative self-evaluations, doubts about one’s abilities, and fixations on mistakes. Personal standards (PS) perfectionism, on the other hand, focuses on achieving goals and having high standards rather than being overly self-critical.

David Dunkley is an associate professor at McGill’s Department of Psychology and a researcher at the Lady Davis Institute of the Jewish General Hospital who is interested in the impacts of perfectionism on well-being. 

“Perfectionism is about setting and striving for high standards and goals, and in itself, it’s not maladaptive,” Dunkley explained in an interview with The Tribune. “It’s the self-critical aspects of perfectionism that are more closely associated with depression and anxiety symptoms.”

One of his students, Alexandra Richard, recently published a doctoral dissertation on the relationship between long-term self-critical perfectionism and symptoms of anxiety and depression in the journal Behavioural Therapy.

Under Dunkley’s supervision, Richard conducted a study that focused on two key manifestations involved in SC perfectionism: Anxiety sensitivity, which is the fear of interpreting physical symptoms of anxiety as signs of being physically or mentally unwell, and experiential avoidance, which is the tendency to try to avoid or suppress unpleasant thoughts or emotions.

Researchers collected data on the participants’ levels of SC and PS perfectionism, symptoms of anxiety and depression, experiential avoidance, and anxiety sensitivity at several points over two years, to investigate the complex relationships between these variables.

Richard’s research uncovered significant links between these manifestations and long-term symptoms of anxiety and depression. The study’s findings suggest that by addressing these specific tendencies, it’s possible to reduce the impact that SC perfectionism has on mental health.

The research found that anxiety sensitivity enhances the vulnerability of SC perfectionists who have high levels of experiential avoidance to symptoms of distress, and vice versa. Interestingly, while anxiety sensitivity was a risk factor primarily for symptoms of anxiety, experiential avoidance appears to be a broader risk factor, influencing participants’ levels of general distress as well as anxiety.

“What this study showed was that it is possible to be high on self-critical perfectionism, but not necessarily high on experiential avoidance or anxiety sensitivity [.…] If you can lower [the levels of] just one of those emotion regulation patterns, you’ll be less vulnerable to depressive and anxious symptoms,” Dunkley explained.

It is also important to note that these findings are only relevant to SC perfectionists; PC participants exhibited no or weak correlations between these variables.

These quantitative findings are in line with prior work on the pathology of perfectionism, and suggest that therapeutic interventions should focus on treating tendencies like anxiety sensitivity and experiential avoidance in order to improve outcomes for SC perfectionists.

The study additionally suggests that different types of perfectionism require different types of interventions. For those with SC perfectionism, introspective practices like mindfulness and self-compassion are found to be particularly helpful.

“This is important work that challenges arguments that anxiety sensitivity and experiential avoidance capture the same process, and also parallels clinical work where targeting and decoupling the co-occurrence of two related processes can be an important treatment goal,” Richard explained in an email to The Tribune.

Ultimately, the findings of Richard’s study show us that, while there is still more research to be done, being a SC perfectionist does not automatically lead to depression and anxiety. While we may not be able to control perfectionistic tendencies, there are strategies to limit the negative impact this form of perfectionism has on mental health. The study reminds us that there are ways to manage and improve well-being, even in a world that constantly pushes for perfection.

Out on the Town, Student Life

How to spend a day in Old Montreal

by Tamiyana Roemer on

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At the height of the Montreal winter, when temperatures are firmly below freezing, the McGill bubble crystallizes. If you’ve begun to feel that the only journey worth braving the slippery sidewalks is the one to the library, perhaps The Tribune can convince you to explore one of the city’s most charming quarters: Old Montreal. A day there promises cobblestone streets, stunning architecture, and a vibrant mix of shops and eateries. Even in the cold, Old Montreal beckons, promising an adventure worth stepping outside for, no matter the time of year.

Gallery hopping

Old Montreal has a rich selection of galleries, where you can warm up from the winter chill and be inspired by the diverse range of art on display. Founded in 2010, Galerie Images Boréales represents nearly 200 Inuit artists, showcasing works made from materials such as bone, walrus ivory, and serpentine. 

Next up is Galerie Blanche, one of Montreal’s most prestigious contemporary art galleries. Established in 2007, the gallery is known for its eclectic collection of contemporary art, featuring works by Québécois, Canadian, and American artists, spanning both figurative and abstract styles. For even more contemporary art, stop at Maël Galerie, which is dedicated to promoting Québécois artists of all backgrounds, providing a platform to elevate the visual arts profession and highlight its essential role in society. 

Shopping

Boutique Olive et Gourmando is a tiny store that offers a selection of gourmet ingredients, kitchen tools, dishware, and decor. The shop celebrates a love for food and the home, showcasing a range of high-quality products perfect for both cooking enthusiasts and those looking to elevate their kitchen and dining experiences. At Boutique Édition, the focus is squarely on design, with every item carefully selected for its innovative approach to form, function, and character. Offering a curated collection of distinctive pieces—from jewelry to home decor—the store showcases the work of both Canadian and international designers. 

Snacking

L’Amour du Pain has delighted customers with its delicious baked goods for over 20 years. The bakery follows traditional French recipes to create an authentic menu, while using Quebec-grown flours to reduce its environmental footprint and support local farmers. Among their most irresistible treats are the pistachio and raspberry croissants, both praised for their exquisite flavour and buttery layers. L’Amour du Pain’s location is beautifully situated inside Maison Pépin, facing the store’s botanical and plant collection.

Bookstore browsing

Old Montreal boasts some of the city’s most charming independent bookstores. Librairie Bertrand, established in 1952, is known for its extensive yet thoughtfully curated shelves, offering a bilingual selection that spans everything from literary classics to children’s books. A few blocks away, you can find Maktaba Bookshop, which opened in 2022. Named after the Arabic word for “library” and “bookstore,” it is a unique concept store that prides itself on its commitment to representation, stocking a diverse range of English books while also featuring an in-house boutique that sells vinyl records and exclusive artist-run merchandise. The space includes a sunny and inviting majlis area, a comfortable space where visitors can take off their winter boots, relax on the gorgeous carpet, and enjoy a book for up to 30 minutes. 

Sipping
If you’ve ventured off campus in the dead of winter, you’ve earned a hot chocolate—and not just any. You deserve the best this freezing city has to offer. La Cave à Manger has mastered the art of rich, traditional hot chocolate, but if you’ve exhausted this classic drink, they also offer creative variations like pumpkin spice, matcha white chocolate, and even a bright purple ube. Regardless of the flavour, each cup is topped with a homemade marshmallow, brûléed right before your eyes for a perfect, caramelized finish.

All Things Academic, Student Life

Everyday and peculiar note-taking apps

by Bianca Tri on

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Changing your note-taking habits isn’t usually at the top of your list of New Year’s resolutions; however, your method can make or break your academic efficiency. With the Winter semester in full swing, having your note-taking system in ship-shape is crucial for beginning the term with a bang. The Tribune interviewed students across campus to discover which methods they prefer and where they stand on the age-old question: Stick with pen and paper, or give up and embrace being an iPad kid?

Traditional methods

Despite the dominance of personal laptops and AI-powered optimizers, some students still opt for the traditional pen-and-paper method. Michel Adamic, PhD student in McGill’s Department of Physics, told The Tribune that he felt most comfortable drawing and writing his studies by hand. 

“That’s what I was taught from a young age, so it’s what I’m used to,” Adamic said. “I’m a physicist, so everything needs to be drawn and written down.”

Amihan Del Rosario Tapan, U0 Arts, prefers using a simulated paper tablet called the reMarkable Paper Pro. She expressed her appreciation for the lightweight product as opposed to having traditional books.

“It’s a bit impractical to use real paper. For the purpose of university, I want to access my notes easily.” 

It seems that even between McGill’s upper and lower years, paper—and paper emulators—remain popular. 

Online document editors

Ease of access is a common theme amongst digital users. Louisa Zaloom, U1 Arts, stated that Google Docs makes it easy to look up keywords and reference them later. This sentiment was echoed by Devanie Dezémé, U3 Arts. 

“If there are any links or videos that we watched in class, even if I’m using Google Docs, it is usually already embedded in my notes,” Dezémé added.

Kasen Korstanje, U2 Arts, highlighted the availability of OneNote through McGill student emails. OneNote also allows its users to organize their pages into notebooks. This gives the platform a leg above document editors like Google Docs, which can only be organized into folders on Google Drive or tabs.

Collaboration and productivity platforms

Notion is a comprehensive platform often hailed for its aesthetically pleasing templates. Contrary to usual document editors, Notion primarily uses KaTeX expressions as a shortcut to stylize text and insert content. Onur Gul, U2 Arts, expressed his enjoyment of the feature. 

“Commands are fast if you’re a fast typer,” he said. “However, you can’t share your notes with someone unless you pay for a plan.”

Digital notebooks

For students looking to combine the tactile experience of writing with the convenience of digital devices, apps like Notability and Goodnotes stand out. 

“[Notability] is super versatile and lets me write with a keyboard and with my iPad pen at the same time,” Julien Finn, U3 Arts & Sc., stated.

However, he noted that Notability’s best features, including the ability to make unlimited edits, are behind a paywall, limiting what free users can access each month. 

On GoodNotes, a free plan only lets you edit three documents. Hopey Ferrer, U1 Arts, says that she enjoys the Goodnotes paid plan, alternating between her tablet and paper. 

“I use my iPad for heavy classes and paper for when I really want to focus and rest my eyes,” Ferrer said. 

Other methods

Dezémé, though primarily a Google Docs user, enjoys writing directly on lecture PDFs when available. 

“This allows me to study anywhere and on any connected device,” she stated.

Angélique Chu, U3 Arts, uses Glean, an application available through McGill’s Student Accessibility & Achievement. The app records and takes notes of lectures, highlighting key points of the lesson for its user.

“[Glean] helps review my notes, due to sensory-processing issues I have,” Chu explained. “I’m fortunate to have access to Glean and other accommodations, but I wish more students were aware of what services that they could have.”

New note-taking technology enters campus ever so often, but it seems that some mediums stand the test of time. One thing’s for certain—you’ll need to try them all for yourself to know what works. 

Out on the Town, Student Life

Save big, live better

by Malika Logossou on

More in Out on the Town:

As the festive season winds down, many students are looking back on their extravagant holiday spending with regret. With school back in swing, Valentine’s Day around the corner, alongside countless club events, parties, and Igloofest, reigning in spending can seem impossible. One easy way to stretch your budget is to take advantage of student discounts whenever possible. Luckily for you, The Tribune has done a little research and has compiled some of the best deals in town.

3 Brasseurs – 732 Rue Sainte-Catherine
This restaurant offers two irresistible student deals: Get 10 items for just $10 CAD,  or get 15 per cent off your meal (excluding drinks) with your student ID. Bonus perk: By showing a ticket from a show or cinema, you can also enjoy 15 per cent off your meal.  

Bulk Barn – 1616 Rue Sainte-Catherine | 5445 des Jockeys
If you’re looking to stock up on affordable snacks and ingredients while also saving up, Bulk Barn is the place for you. Students get a 15 per cent discount on Wednesdays and they offer a 15 per cent discount on your purchase on Sundays if you bring a reusable container.  Not only is it budget-friendly, but it is also sustainable! Don’t forget to bring your student ID.

Metro – 3575 Avenue du Parc Suite 5100
Metro offers a 10 per cent student discount for purchases over $50 CAD every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. This is perfect if you’re trying to do your groceries without hurting your wallet.

Marché Adonis – 2173 Sainte-Catherine Ouest 
Students can benefit from a 10 per cent discount during weekdays at Marché Adonis by showing their student ID. The Tribune also recommends consulting their weekly flyers, as they often offer additional discounts. 

B.Cycle Spin – 2000 McGill College Avenue #140
If your New Year’s resolution is to exercise more, B.Cycle has got you covered. With various locations in Downtown, Westmount, the Old Port, and Rockland, they offer an enticing variety of spinning, interval training, pilates, and TRX bar sequences classes. Students get 28 per cent off each class and 31 per cent off of a monthly membership. Simply fill out their student form to unlock the reduced fees.

Via Rail
Via Rail allows you to travel comfortably by train, offering free Wi-Fi onboard, power outlets at the seat, food service, and spacious bathrooms. They have sales every Tuesday on last-minute deals and extend a McGill VIA discount if you are travelling for a university-sponsored or paid trip across all fare types, excluding the Escape Fares. The discount is also applicable for faculty and staff personal leisure trips, allowing up to three additional travellers. 

DriveSafe
If you are ever in need of a late-night drive, this perk is for you. DriveSafe is a free transportation service run by the SSMU, operating on Thursdays to Saturdays from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.. Volunteers drive students to and from anywhere on the island of Montreal, Montmorency metro, Longueuil metro, and Kahnawá:ke. This service is especially helpful for commuters or those heading out late, braving the cold weather. To get a ride, simply call their dispatch on their website or fill out their request form.

WalkSafe
Similarly, WalkSafe offers a safe accompaniment service for walking at night, including on public transportation. Available during the Fall and Winter semesters, the service operates Sunday to Thursday from 9 pm to 12 am and Friday to Saturday from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. You only need to fill out their request form.

Honorable mention : Poulet Rouge McGill – 698 Rue Sainte-Catherine
Poulet Rouge, a beloved Québécois restaurant chain, specializes in customizable chicken bowls with rice and vegetables, offering vegetarian, Halal, and gluten-free options. Until May 1, you can enjoy a 15 per cent discount by showing your McGill student ID card for the 2024-2025 school year. The deal applies to regular-priced orders and does not work with other offers or promotions. It’s an ideal destination for a budget-friendly lunch near campus, as their meals will fill you up for the remainder of the school day.

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