Author: Robin Stanford

Categories
Student Life

Winter is coming – bring your plants inside

Indoor gardens are cheap, delicious, and fresh

With winter just around the corner, many people are scrambling to harvest the last fruits of the summer. Aside from cooking, canning and drying everything from the garden, why not bring some of your plants indoors to enjoy year-round?

If you’re not already a gardening aficionado, but the idea of cutting costs and having fresh produce on hand is appealing to you, this may just be the perfect time to start.

The Concordia Greenhouse is there to help with their upcoming workshop “Hot Topics in Urban Agriculture: Window Farms workshop on Thursday”, taking place on Oct. 9. The workshop will demonstrate how to set up a new indoor green space. In the meantime, here are a few things to consider.

Before beginning

Prior to committing to an indoor garden, take note of the environment you will be placing your plants in and plan ahead. Remember, all manner of plants require light, warmth and room. Make sure that they will have all three before beginning.

Although it’s tempting to place them near a large window, resist this urge. Keep in mind that windows, in the winter, are a source of cold and may damage plants placed too close to them. Similarly, as pointed out by  Sheena Swirlz, Communications Director of the Concordia Greenhouse, putting plants too high may cause them to wilt, as heat rises in your home.

Like their outdoor kin, house plants require good soil and good drainage. Swirlz advises giving plants at least four inches of root space for proper growth. Consider bringing in outdoor pots to serve this function. Also remember to fertilize often, as potted soil has no way of replenishing its nutrients. Consider using fertilizer pellets or sticks as they need less maintenance.

Finally, keep in mind the housemates who will be interacting with your plants. Pets, children and roommates may try to taste the new arrivals. Be sure to research each plant before growing and make sure no harm will come to inquisitive hands and mouths. The Greenhouse suggests trying scents such as citrus and oils to keep cats at bay.

Now comes the time to select what to grow.

Spices – inexpensive and tasty

Photo by Jocelyn Beaudet.

Many of the herbs grown in pots outside may be transferred into your home. If you were already growing them outside, consider transplanting a portion into a pot that will fit your space. If you know of someone who has a lush herb garden, ask to have a few sprigs.

For many herbs, if a piece of about four to six inches is taken off and planted in good soil, a new plant will begin to grow.

If none of the above are an option, consider buying some seeds. As winter is considered the off season for gardening, they are often sold at a significantly lower price than the rest of the year.

Expect to spend between $1 and $5 for a pack of seeds that will last somewhere from a few months to a year. This may seem like a sizable investment but fresh herbs in the middle of winter may cost the same, if not more, than their seeds when purchased at the supermarket.

When starting fresh, consider how much time and care your new venture will take. Keep in mind that while mint, basil and chives require little to no upkeep, others such as cilantro or parsley require a careful eye to make sure they thrive.

Veggies – fresh and healthy

Growing vegetables indoors can lend a splash of color to your home décor, and is a yummy addition to your diet. Although they will probably not replace those bought at the grocery store, they are an inexpensive treat. Root vegetables such as green onions and radishes thrive indoors. There is also the possibility of growing miniature pepper plants, sprouts and tomatoes. Experienced gardeners can even try their hands with miniature lemon or orange trees.

As with herbs, some vegetables may be brought inside.  Keep in mind that they may still require spacious pots. If space is an issue, consider growing them from seeds, or buying a juvenile plant.

Photo by Jocelyn Beaudet.

Seeds may cost as little as a dollar. On the other hand, juvenile plants may cost somewhere between $3 and $20, depending on the type of vegetable – miniature citrus trees being the most expensive due to the care they need.

Vegetables should be viewed as a long-term investment that will pay off over time. For example, the average tomato plant will produce 20 fruits or more and may cost as little as $5 to acquire. Growing your own at 25 cents per tomato will save on the food budget in the long term.

As vegetables tend to be more labour-intensive, consider slowly incorporating them into your space, as tending for one new plant is less stressful than 10.

Aloe – not your typical houseplant

If growing spices and vegetables seems daunting, there are options other than traditional house plants. A must-have for anyone who likes to cook is the aloe plant. Aloe does not necessarily need a lot of space and is hugely practical. In cases of small burns, a leaf of the plant may be torn off and the sap applied as a skin soother. It is just as effective as the aloe gels sold in the pharmacy, if not more so. A bonus is that by growing it there is virtually no way of running out.

Whether growing herbs, veggies or medicinal plants, bringing nature indoors is a great way to liven up any space and keep a reminder that spring will eventually come again.

For more information on how to start your indoor garden, and to reserve a place in the upcoming workshop which will take place in the Concordia Greenhouse on Oct. 9 from 5 to 7 p.m., go to concordiagreenhouse.com

Also: Some foodie inspiration for what you can make with your freshly grown produce.

Homemade Pesto (from the Food Network)
2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
2cloves garlic
1/4 cup pine nuts
2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup grated Pecorino cheese
Combine the basil, garlic and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add 1/2 cup of the oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

If using immediately add all the remaining oil and pulse until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large serving bowl and mix in the cheese.

If freezing transfer to an air-tight container and drizzle remaining oil over the top. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw and stir in cheese.

Easy Curry-Garlic Dip
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp curry powder
Mix ingredients in a bowl. Adjust spices to taste.
To serve, drizzle over any crunchy vegetable or use as dip. Goes well with radishes, peppers and mushrooms.

Categories
Opinions

Sovereigntists need to stop crying over someone else’s choice

“Jean Chretien spoke to the UK government about separation in the days leading up to the Scottish Referendum. (Tourisme Mauricie/Flickr)”

It’s a Scotland for Scotland, and not for you.

Bernard Landry, the former Parti Québécois (PQ) premier, said the message from the Scottish referendum ‘is not all that negative’ for Quebec separatists because ‘practically half’ of Scottish voters chose independence.”

This statement, published in the National Post on Sept. 19, shows a bizarre trend in how we view the separatist debate in Quebec. Both sides of the issue have been living vicariously through the Scottish independence debate. As a result, the foreign movement has been invaded by politicians from Quebec’s past, even though they have no right to be there.

Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, who led the anti-separation forces in Quebec’s 1995 referendum, acted as advisor to United Kingdom officials on their campaign. On the other side of the debate, according to the CBC, low-profile meetings were held last year between Scottish independence leader Alex Salmond and Quebec Premier Pauline Marois.

“Jean Chretien spoke to the UK government about separation in the days leading up to the Scottish Referendum. (Tourisme Mauricie/Flickr)”

Although from the point of view of the UK and Scottish leaders it makes sense to bring in the experience of someone who has lived through a similar situation, it still seems odd. When the Quebec referendums happened in 1980 and 1995, neither side asked officials from another country for advice. Perhaps there was no one who could advise on such a vote, but there were many countries from the former USSR who could have advised on how to self-govern.

The reason, perhaps, that no outside opinions were asked is the longstanding view that Canada and Quebec are unique. Both have a unique history, culture and relationship with one another that no other nation could speak to. It is odd, then, that although it was felt that no one could advise them, they now stand ready to give advice. The logic may be that Scotland in its current form is like Quebec.

There are many similarities between the populations in terms of their economic prosperity. According to their respective governments, Quebec currently has a population of 8 million, while Scotland is home to 5.5 million. Similarly, the gross domestic product (GDP) of Quebec in 2010 was $300 billion, while Scotland sported a GDP of $216 billion US.

But this is where the similarities end. It is perhaps easy to lose sight of the fact that Quebec is a province within Canada, while Scotland is its own country within the UK. As such, Scotland has legal, educational and public systems independent from the UK. Although these are in place in Quebec too, they are still within the larger Canadian systems. This makes Scotland an already half-formed independent nation.

Furthermore, conflating the two populations negates hundreds of years of history unique to each. Any Quebec historian would understand the deep ramifications of the quiet revolution, or the fundamental language inequality which led to the first sovereignty campaign, neither of which happened across the pond.

Indeed, Scotland has its own reasons for wanting separation from the UK. Comparing the two situations takes away from that.

Perhaps the biggest irony is that as Québecois, we pride ourselves on the shared heritage and culture that make us truly special, yet through meddling and comparing ourselves to Scotland we send the opposite message to the world.

We are special…. Just like them.

Categories
Student Life

Find out what all the Buzz is about at The Hive

The much-anticipated homegrown cafe aims to provide sustainable food to students

What’s better on a crisp fall day than a warm bowl of chili or a grilled cheese sandwich on sprout bread? Picking it up on your way to class from a café where you are part owner.

This is the opportunity being given to Concordia students this year with the opening of The Hive Solidarity Cooperative. The Hive is the result of an ongoing project, which has already lasted many years. All the planning finally paid off when, in the Concordia Student Union (CSU) by-elections last fall, 87 per cent of students voted in favor of starting a student-run, nonprofit cooperative on the second floor of the Hall building.

The result of this vote is the café itself, the purpose of which is “not only to provide sustainable food on campus, but to have a food provider on campus that students can engage themselves in and have a direct say in,” said Jessica Cabana, Vice President of Sustainability with the CSU.

This business plan leads to two huge benefits for students.

First, it allows the Concordia population to own and have a say in what they want from a homegrown café. Membership to the co-op costs five dollars and lasts a lifetime. Benefits for members include a tantalizing 10 per cent rebate off of everything in store.  Concordia’s community has been eager to join the coalition, adding over 1,000 new members in the first two weeks of the academic year.

Second, it will aim to introduce sustainable foods into the diets of Concordians. At present, their sustainable food options are rather limited, with the exception of the excellent sprout salad grown in Concordia’s greenhouse. As a result, many items on the menu are brought in from outside caterers. The goal is to move towards more sustainable food, as the current catered items are not. According to Cabana this is only temporary, as The Hive will move gradually towards a self-catered food model as opportunities become available.

In the meantime, the food and drink will remain of high quality and reasonable price. The reason for this, Cabana said, is that the Hive is “for the people, not the profit.”

Already the co-op has been showing these words to be true in their involvement with the Loyola luncheon program. The luncheon program provides free vegetarian lunches on campus for students in need, similar to the People’s Potato initiative but for the Loyola campus.

The café’s work thus far this session has been impressive for such a young organization, but their work is far from over. On Sept. 29 at 10 a.m., The Hive will open the doors of its second location, on the second floor of the Student Center at the Loyola Campus, which is in the SC building.

With a location open on each campus The Hive will offer the Concordia community the unique opportunity to celebrate what we can do as a group, to watch a café grow and blossom, and to be a part of it every step of the way.

Grand opening of The Hive Solidarity Cooperative is on Sept. 29 2014, 10 a.m. For more information, go to:

https://www.facebook.com/HiveCafeCoop

Categories
Opinions

ComicCon doesn’t have a harassment problem: society does

Blaming geek culture isn’t only insulting, it’s simply wrong

Beware ladies, there is a new threat roaming our streets, and it masquerades as superheroes and villains. It is… the male nerd.

With the announcement that the Montreal Comiccon would be implementing new measures to prevent sexual harassment at its event, the media went into a feeding frenzy. The Montreal Gazette typifies this, stating that “creeping at the con’ has become a widespread problem.”  Although probably written with good intentions, such reporting is hurtful to the two major groups who attend such conventions: men and women.

For men, the message put forth is that only a certain type of person would be associated with fantasy and sci-fi genres. Through the mysterious and threatening language used, the stereotype of the “ultimate nerd” is evoked: that of the forty-year-old man who lives in his parents’ basement, subsists on a diet exclusively of Cheetos, hasn’t seen the sun for at least five years, and is deeply sexually frustrated — an individual who would commit acts of sexual harassment out of social ineptitude.

For women, the message is not always one of protection, but sometimes of subtle blame. Many news outlets reporting on this note that some of the costumes worn by female attendants are skin tight and revealing.  Making that point feeds into the concept that if one dresses in such a way, one must be asking for the attention, looking for sexual harassment to occur. Such a line of thinking places blame on the victim, which is simply not the case. These women are lovers of the genre wanting to go, in character costume, to a convention.

Further, such reporting calls into question whether women are welcome at such events or even a part of the community Comiccon is geared towards. Through the stereotype of the “male nerd,” women are essentially shut out. Comiccon risks being portrayed as a boys’ club. Such a view excludes a large portion of the convention-going public.

None of these criticisms change the fact that sexual harassment exists. But this issue is not relegated to convention halls: it’s in the classroom, the workplace, and any area where people gather. In all other public places, a special group — most often a human resources department — is tasked with dealing with cases as they occur and offering training to try to prevent such situations. Comiccon is following this trend in an attempt to stop sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment does happen wherever there is a large enough gathering of people. Its victims are women and men alike. To date, the only report on male harassment at Comiccon is by the CBC. Unwanted attention, directed at both sexes, is a conversation that society needs to have.

It is easy to lose focus of the fact that it is a small minority of people at the convention who engaged in unwanted activity. Through magnifying the issue, the popular media is, in essence, doing something akin to equating all Christians to members of the Westboro Baptist Church. One would never do the latter, so why make it different for those who like comics, sci-fi and fantasy?

While the media hype will probably die down in the next few weeks, the issues it raises should remain a part of our public conversation. Lovers of these genres should put aside their ideological differences, take up their swords/staffs/light sabers/phases/mystical artifacts of unknown origins and say that enough is enough. Sexual harassment will not be tolerated, nor will those who commit such acts be welcome.

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Opinions

Friendly reminder: there is no North American Ebola crisis

Why Ebolamania in North America is only the latest in a apocalyptic trend

In August of this year, a man was quarantined at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital and it was all anyone was talking about for the next week. The individual in question was not a celebrity or public figure. He was simply an individual suspected of having the disease that is creating unreasonable panic in North America: the dreaded Ebola virus.

For those who have been living under a particularly soundproof rock, the Ebola outbreak began in late July of this year as the disease began to spread rapidly through West Africa. Since then, cases of the illness have been confirmed in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, according to The Canadian Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CTC). Not a single case has been reported in Canada.

Why, then, is there such intense fear surrounding one man who may have had Ebola? It is due to what the possibility of a case represents.

For the past fourteen years the media has periodically portrayed disease outbreaks as a plague. This was evident during the Severe Acute Repertory Syndrome (SARS) pandemic in 2002 and in the Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak in 2009.

These cases show that panic is not warranted because Ebola is more difficult to transmit than either of the previous diseases. According to the CTC both SARS and H1N1 were airborne illnesses. SARS could be transmitted to someone three feet away from the infected individual through water droplets in the person’s breath, in addition to the traditional coughing or sneezing. H1N1was a flu and was transmitted in a similar way.

Ebola, in contrast, is spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an individual who is infected–such as blood, urine, feces, saliva, vomit, or sexual fluids. Unlike the previous examples, this requires much greater contact between individuals. Sitting on a bus next to someone with Ebola will most probably not allow you to contract the disease.

Aside from the unlikeliness of contraction, the chances of a random member of the population of Canada dying from such a case is unlikely at best. According to Statistics Canada, 251 individuals died of SARS and 428 of H1N1. Compare these figures with the 7,194 deaths caused by diabetes in 2009, a condition we are publicly calmer about.

These two diseases combined caused less than 10 per cent of the deaths that diabetes did in just one year. Yet where is the round the clock coverage of the sugary menace among us?

Due to increased public awareness of areas of infection and the efficiency of our healthcare system in such matters, the instances of infection within Canada will be very low. It should be noted that all of these diseases are horrible, dangerous, and can be fatal. Anyone who has travelled to regions affected by the Ebola outbreak and is showing symptoms of the disease should seek medical attention immediately.

If not, relax and take a deep breath the next time you hear about the disease that will wipe out the human race; chances are it’s not as dangerous to you as they claim.

Categories
Student Life

Concordia Co-op will quench your crafty thirst

Let La Cooperative des Brasseurs Illuminés be your ticket to locally crafted beer enlightenment

Love beer? Want to learn how to brew it in a friendly environment? Then La Coopérative des Brasseurs Illuminés is the place to go.

The inspiration for Brasseurs Illuminés came last winter as a project for an internship class taken by founding member Braden Richards. Getting a few of his friends together, the co-op was created in June of this year with the help of The Concordia Sustainability Action Fund.

The co-op’s connection with the Sustainability Action Fund highlights a main concern of the group. According to member John Talbot, Les Brasseurs aims to enter into “the social act of sustainability” by using local, sustainable products. With the support of the fund they were able to begin educating members on how to make homebrewed beer.

This educational focus is evident through the group’s webpage where the different ingredients that go into each of their beers is explained in detail. Co-op members are invited to sessions to learn about and take part in the art of making beer.

Brasseurs Illuminés is currently made up of ten core members. They are constantly looking for more individuals to join them in the learning and tasting process. No prior knowledge is necessary and students from any discipline are welcome. “We’re looking for people from all different disciplines, to bridge the gap across disciplines,” said member Hannah Materne.

Unfortunately, their product is not currently available to the public. As they are a young operation, the next few months will be spent creating business plans and filing for licenses from the government. They hope to begin catering for student events by early 2015.

If that seems too far away, there is still a chance to taste their beer at various events. These will be posted on the co-op’s facebook page.

As for their final goal, the sky is the limit: “[my dream is to] be able to open up a place like Reggie’s where students can come and drink student-made beer instead of grabbing a Pabst,” said member Cody Jacobs.

To become a member, join their mailing list, or just to learn about beer, go to: facebook.com/brasseursillumines orillumines.ca.

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Opinions

Fighting tooth and nail against sexual assault

Undercover Colors nail polish, picture above, is said to help prevent sexual assault. Photo by Undercover Colors.

Is nail polish the answer to the rape culture epidemic?

Could a manicure prevent someone from being raped?

According to a group of undergraduate students from North Carolina State University, the answer is yes. They have perfected a clear coat nail polish which changes color when in contact with the most common types of date rape drugs (such as Rohypnol, Xanax and GHB). The invention, named Undercover Colors, is being heralded by the popular media as the best way to protect women. Others, however, warn that such an invention is born of a culture which does not understand rape and will ultimately blame the victim for the crime.

Rape, or sexual assault, is often thought of by the public as an act committed by mysterious strangers, sometimes with the aid of drugs. According to Julie Michaud, Administrative Coordinator for The Centre for Gender Advocacy, this perception is deeply flawed. Most cases of sexual assault are perpetrated by someone the survivor already knows and may only use alcohol to inhibit the victim. In such instances, the survivor is not likely to consider testing their drink or to find any drugs at all.

Undercover Colors nail polish, picture above, is said to help prevent sexual assault. Photo by Undercover Colors.

Even in a crowded bar, surrounded by strangers, such a detection system may be dodgy at best. It is unclear at present how elements such as wear and tear will affect the nail polish or how long it will work after the initial application. This product may end up working more due to the media coverage it has received rather than the ability to detect substances. A woman tipping her finger into her drink is not a very subtle gesture and may serve as a deterrent.

Unfortunately and realistically, what this does is train rapists to adapt and evolve as well. Michaud points out that the nail polish will probably cause drug producers to find new drugs which cannot be detected. Although this may take several years, it undoubtedly will happen. In the interim, predators will simply monitor the actions of their victim more closely.

Further, such a media stir will ultimately place the responsibility of sexual assault on the survivor. Society’s message to women is to “make sure the perpetrator targets someone who isn’t you,” according to Michaud. If someone is raped, the question becomes more about why they were not wearing the right nail polish, dressing modestly, or participating in any number of activities portrayed as preventing such behavior. Such a stance ignores the fact that a predator will select a new target, or find way to circumvent any protective measures taken in order to impose their will upon another.

No one doubts the good intentions of the team that invented Undercover Colors, its portrayal as the best defense against rape is deeply flawed. The issue is not the invention, but rather the way our society understands sexual assault.

Michaud summarizes the current situation well: “Amazingly, we almost never hear about innovations to teach people not to rape such as creating a comprehensive sex and consent education program in all elementary and high schools, or implementing mandatory consent workshops in universities, workplaces, and other organizations.”

As much as society interprets it as otherwise, the main problem with cases of sexual assault is not what the survivor didn’t do, but what the rapist did do.

Categories
Student Life

You’ll eat your heart out at YUL-EAT

Photo by Nathalie Laflamme

The gourmand event of the season is rolling into town

Not quite ready for the summer to end? Looking for one last weekend of Montreal’s iconic festival scene? This weekend, Sept. 5 and 6, YUL-EAT aims to finish the summer with a bang.

La Société culturelle Les Survenants in conjunction with L’Association des Restaurateurs de Rue du Quebec are staging the culinary finale of the summer. The event will take place at l’Esplanade Financière Sun Life, directly outside of Pie-IX metro station.

Photo by Nathalie Laflamme

The event was created to increase awareness of the amount of food continuously wasted in Quebec and to reduce it. Organizers hope that innovations grounded within our unique Quebecois culture and culinary resources may be the solution.

Throughout the weekend, a variety of events will be offered. Competitions will be held between top-tier Quebecois chefs, special culinary products from Quebec will be presented, and a large cookbook sale and signing will be held. All these events will be open to the public, with no entrance fee.

The festivities will begin with the usual First Fridays assembling of Montreal food trucks at 4 p.m., and will continue into the wee hours with an opening night party. Saturday’s program kicks off with an epicurean book fair before brunch at 11 a.m., followed by a chefs “olympics” and culminating in a garden party starting at 7:30 p.m.

With a focus on Quebecois food culture, it may be unsurprising that all events will be held exclusively for a francophone audience. Although a potential hindrance for those who do not understand French, there are many activities geared to a larger audience.

Free concerts will be taking place all weekend as part of the festival as well as an assembly of all the food trucks in Montreal. Although the food trucks are no stranger to the Esplanade, this event is special due to it being one of the last of the summer. Whenever the food trucks come together, a party atmosphere quickly follows. With the addition of live music, the event will surely take on the unique Montreal flavour that we’ve come to expect from our summertime festivals.

Whether interested in the latest gourmand innovation, trying new foods or just getting out one last time before hitting the books, YUL-EAT promises to be the place to be.

For more information visit (French only) cuisinederue.org

Categories
Student Life

Concordia’s household Café X serves up cozy vibe

Keeping it local is what this student-run café is all about

Stressed out by the end of semester rush? Why not try the best kept secret on campus? It’s a little safe haven slightly out of the way that sells coffee for a dollar, (when you bring a reusable mug), and the best homemade earl grey cake.

The history of Café X is a bit of an enigma. No one’s quite sure how this student-run operation came into being.

According to co-manager Laura Hudspith, “it probably started as a kind of pirate ship operation in the Visual Arts building.”

No matter its humble beginnings, Café X has since grown to encompass two locations, one in the EV building, the other in the Visual Arts building.

The EV location is a little out of the way on the 7th floor and serves more as a take-out counter than café. Regardless of its location, it is filled with a steady stream of regulars who chat casually with the cashier about the latest treats on sale.

The VA location features the same counter space with a small lounge which is perfect to study and talk with friends. Not to mention the art gallery right next door where one can take in the latest exhibit.

Aside from the friendly atmosphere, the food and drinks are the highlight of Café X. Everything is vegetarian with many vegan and gluten-free options. According to Hudspith, over 14 local businesses and students cater the food that is served. The number of suppliers leads to a diverse, ever-changing variety of food. Furthermore, the knowledge that every sale directly helps a Montreal company and not a corporate conglomerate is a bonus.

The prices themselves are very affordable. The goal of Café X is not to achieve a profit. Any and all money goes directly to staff and running costs as well as the occasional emergency repair.  The cafe itself receives no money from the university. The only item donated is the space itself.

With all of this it is remarkable to think that the organization is run, in its entirety, by a group of fine arts students. The group itself changes over time but the spirit of the group remains.

At the present time there are no plans to expand beyond the current two locations. Even so, groups from other faculties have expressed an interest in starting similar ventures. For the time being, however, Café X is the only student-run non-profit cafe.

The buzz surrounding the organization has escaped Concordia. Back in March, co-managers Allison Kelley and Hudspith sat down with the Montreal Gazette for an exposé. Hudspith looks back at this event fondly but stated that the goal was never to gain outside credit.

“Although the review in Montreal Gazette was great, Café X has no interest in catering to outside clients. We are really about Concordia and its students.”

Visit Café X at EV 7.750 or VA-229 for operating hours see http://www.concordiafoodcoalition.com/food-on-campus/where-to-eat/

Categories
Arts

Expo+ contest winners are announced

From the 20 different artworks that adorned Montreal’s bus shelters over the past four months, four were awarded the grand prize. Photo Courtesy of abribus.ca.

The STM revealed the top four most voted for artworks this past Friday

What does a zebra, an eye, a black hole, and the Old Port of Montreal have in common?

Ten thousand dollars.

Last month, The Concordian reported that Quebecor Media, in collaboration with the Societé de Transport de Montréal (STM), launched the Expo+ contest. Over the course of the last four months, over 1,100 artists submitted their works for public voting, hoping to be featured on the new STM bus shelters.

From the 20 different artworks that adorned Montreal’s bus shelters over the past four months, four were awarded the grand prize. Photo Courtesy of abribus.ca.

The pieces up for voting were divided between art submitted by the general public and those offered by the advertising industry.

The final four winners were announced on April 4, with an unknown amount of votes gathered to have the images emerge victorious.

Compared with other submissions, the winners are not the most aesthetically bold images in the contest. The first features a black and white zebra flying above the ground with the help of a balloon. The second, a black hole-like image in the middle of a swirling vortex of black and red. The third, a watercolour of rue St. Paul in the old port of Montreal. Finally, a Warhol-esque eye looking at the sky.

These four finalists have risen above the rest to claim the $10,000 prize which is to be split among the two categories. Even though there was but one finalist from the advertising industry they will take home half of the prize, while the other $5,000 will be split among the three winners from the general public.

Arguably the prize money is not the real prize. Aside from the finalists, the top 20 artists are being featured on Montreal bus shelters from March 24 to April 20.

For the advertising agencies this could have easily become free advertising space. Thankfully none of the images were pushing merchandise. No doubt the accolade of displaying one’s work on the new STM shelters will come in handy for these companies landing contracts in the future.

Predictably, there is little thematic homogeneity among the 20 finalists currently on display. They range from a fox sporting a bow tie to an abstract gear design.

Except for one image, they are all agreeable. The exception, however, demonstrates what the STM should do in the future should they hold another Expo+ contest.

The image in question is of a police officer, in full riot gear, holding a rose above the Montreal cityscape. Although there is artistic merit in the work, it can be seen as a politically charged piece. In a climate where such an image may be viewed as provocative, perhaps it is not one that should be exhibited on the sides of bus shelters. There is a time and place for such offerings, but Montreal rush hour may not be one of them.

Should the STM launch another art contest, perhaps they should give it a theme — “Art chez nous”, for example, would give the city a much needed cultural boost. It would also be wise to ask that political messages be excluded from competition as bus service is not the appropriate place for such images.

Contrary to what had been reported previously by Quebecor Media, the winning artworks will be removed from bus shelters on April 20, 2014.

For a full list of Expo+ contest winners visit: abribus.ca/en/contest/expo-plus

Categories
Opinions

Your voice counts, regardless of the language

Photo from olc.spsd.sk.ca

Why everyone should take the opportunity to vote in the upcoming election

Provincial elections tend to bring out the beast in everyone, encouraging debate and unwanted political advertisements wherever one looks. For the first time in recent memory, however, a political candidate has questioned who should be allowed to decide the future of the province in which they reside.

On March 22, at a news conference in Rivière-du-Loup, Pauline Marois, leader of the Parti Québécois, went on record as stating that they are concerned that non-Quebecers will be deciding the fate of our province. The concern, according to Mme Marois, is due to an “abnormal” number of anglophones and allophones who have registered to vote in the greater Montreal region. At this time, it is unclear what figure “abnormal” represents. According to Le Directeur Général Des Elections du Québec (DGE) there have been no abnormalities concerning voter registration.

According to the DGE, anyone above the age of majority, who has lived in Québec for more than six months, and intends to stay in Québec long term has the right to vote.

At a press conference two days later, the Parti Québécois sided with their leader by questioning if the anglophones and allophones registering intended to stay within the province at all. This is a very dangerous line of thinking to pursue, especially given that the DGE has admitted that some names were taken off the electoral list since the last provincial vote.

Voting is a right, regardless of the individual’s primary language. It is risky for any candidate to state otherwise. Allophones and anglophones are Quebecers just as much as French speakers within the province.

What you can do:

1) Register: If you are eligible to vote be sure to register with the DGE. The deadline to register to vote is April 3 at 2 p.m..

2) VERIFY: If you have voted in previous elections, verify to make sure you’re still on the list. Those on the electoral list should have already received voting instructions in the mail. If you have not, please visit the DGE website to verify your voter registration.

3) GET INFORMED: All news services will have a recap section appearing in the next week summarizing all political platforms. Even if you do not have the time to follow what the candidates are up to daily, try to keep abreast of big issues which appear in the media.

4) VOTE: Be sure on April 7 to make your voice heard. These individuals will be directly affecting your life through the legislation passed. Be sure to take 30 minutes out of your day to make your voice heard.

5) GET INVOLVED: Politics don’t stop after the election. If any elected official does something which you disagree with there is always public discourse. Let them know through email, petition, or protest.

Exercise your right to vote. Send the message that ALL Quebecers will stand and be heard. If any politician says that certain citizens aren’t really Quebecers they will find that they are wrong.

À Mme Marois: Je suis fière de la culture Québécoise accueillante et libre. J’ai honte de votre vision de notre province, où le vote n’est pas un droit mais seulement un autre cible a être utilisée dans vos enjeux politiques.

To Mme Marois: I am proud of our unique and welcoming Quebec culture. I am disgusted by your vision of a Quebec where voting is no longer a right but a target to be used in your personal game of politics.

For all information concerning voting visit www.electionsquebec.qc.ca/english/

 

Categories
Arts

Don’t look up at the starry night — look down

PARI has initiated a crowd-funding drive that will help make historic images of the night sky available via the Internet to the general public, scientists and students worldwide.

The Astronomy Legacy Project is working to preserve pictures of our galaxy on our screens

Looking up at a starry sky, it is easy to get lost in the immensity of it. When using a telescope of sufficient strength, every planet and galaxy becomes a unique and beautiful entity. For over 120 years these images have been recorded on glass plates. The Astronomy Legacy Project (ALP) aims to give the public access to over hundreds of thousands of plates online at no cost. To reach their goals, however, they need the public’s help.

Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) is a non profit, educational organization committed to bringing the ALP to life. Founded in 1998 on a former NASA tracking site in North Carolina, the organization soon began exploring the possibility of archiving astronomical plates.

PARI has initiated a crowd-funding drive that will help make historic images of the night sky available via the Internet to the general public, scientists and students worldwide.

According to ALP’s principal investigator, Dr. Michael Castelaz, the collection of plates began with a gift of over 20,000 plates from a retiring professor. Since the initial donation, the archive is now home to over 220,000 plates with more being received from institutions across the continent.

The contents of these plates range from surfaces of planets to nebulas. Although the current offerings are in low resolution, one cannot help but be mesmerized by the intensity of the images. Halley’s comet racing through the sky is as impactful through a black and white photograph as it is seen in person.

Perhaps the most striking of these is a photograph in colour of two galaxies colliding. The star systems themselves appear red and yellow against a blue backdrop. Although physical motion cannot be captured in such a format, the plate feels emotionally charged and timeless.

As it was clear that ALP was privy to something so significant yet fragile, special care was taken to address the challenges that could prevent their longevity.

The immediate issue presented was how to preserve these images both in the short and long-term. Storage for the physical plates was possible in an unused building on the site, which NASA helped bring to archival standards. One problem persisted — how to save these images for further use and enjoyment. As all the plates stored at the facility are unique, should one break, the images are gone forever.

The ALP’s current project is to individually digitize these plates so as to preserve them for the long run. This will not be easy as there is no standardized format for the glass plates. They range in size from a few inches to two feet and can be rectangular or circular. Since they all differ, many machines that may be used to digitize the images would be ill-equipped for this purpose.

Currently, the ALP does have a machine donated by NASA that is capable of transferring one plate per hour. At this rate it would take over 100 years to digitize the plates they currently have during which time some specimens would be lost forever.

To speed up the process PARI has turned to crowdfunding to try to raise $60,000 for a more effective scanner, the OPTEK 463 VSM. When asked of the benefits of pursuing this funding source, Dr. Castelaz stated that the fundraiser is a great way to let people know about the project.

Crowdfunding, as opposed to government funding, allows for the immediate feedback of donors according to the director of the Astronomical Photographic Archive, (where the plates are stored), Thurburn Barker. Furthermore, appealing to the populous avoids issues such as the fiscal climate or political whims which may make government funding unavailable.

Since the public aspect of the project is present in every element, the turn to the community for support becomes logical. Public participation is a small request for such a wealth of free, public information for us and for future generations.

For more information about PARI and the Astronomy Legacy Project visit pari.edu. To view the current crowdfund visit indiegogo.com/projects/astronomy-legacy-project.

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