Author: Sara DuBreuil

When Anthony Di Cintio’s family friend, Matthew, was diagnosed with leukemia, Di Cintio wanted to find a way to show his support, rally the family, and bring people together around the cause.

Combining music, stand-up, homemade bake goods, and coffee, his upcoming event, Light the Night Coffee House, is designed to do just that.Di Cintio is the main organizer, with friends and classmates in the McGill Faculty of Medicine volunteering to help run it.

“I thought if I could organize a charity in respect to him and his family, it could be a sign of hope,” said Di Cintio. “I did it to bring up the spirits of the family, and I think it has.”

The Light the Night Coffee House is a fundraiser being held in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), which is a voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education, and patient services.

The event is in its third year and has raised $3,500 for the cause. With the goal of expanding and attracting more than just immediate friends, this is the first year it’s being held downtown.

The night is styled like a coffee house with a set of acoustic musical acts (including Di Cintio himself), stand-up comedians, and an open-mic session. Under the theme ‘Mardi Gras,’  there will also be a photo booth, bake sale, raffle prizes and of course, lots of coffee.

“I thought of something I would enjoy doing and going to,” said Di Cintio about organizing the event. “It’s going to be a nice, kickback acoustic night.”

Concordia student, Liana Di lorio, is planning on performing during the open-mic portion of the coffee house.

“I love the event because it’s low-key, laid back and, ultimately, a full night of entertainment for a really great cause,” said Di lorio. “The LTN coffee house has that kind of ‘We can make a difference’ vibe without pressuring you to make a donation.”

Matthew himself is currently in the hospital, having just finished a round of chemotherapy and is awaiting a bone marrow transplant. His girlfriend, Cristina Cinquanta, is the senior campaign coordinator for the LLS’s Light the Night Walk in Montreal. She and Matthew joined the walk in 2009 and since then, with the help and support of family and friends, have raised $105,000 for the society.

“The Light the Night Coffee House fundraiser has contributed tremendously towards our team goal and the goals of the society, which is to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families,” said Cinquanta. “We are extremely thankful for Anthony’s support and generosity.”

Tickets for Friday’s event cost $15 and all proceeds will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, through the Light the Night Walk 2014.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, at Thompson House Ballroom, 3650 Rue McTavish, Montreal.

Passengers at the Mont-Royal metro station on Saturday were not greeted with the usual sights and sounds of the Plateau. Instead, as they stepped into Gérald-Godin Square, they found themselves in the middle of a lively event, looking straight at a towering pyramid of shoes and being asked to contribute their own footwear.

The pyramid was the centerpiece of Handicap International’s seventh annual Pyramid of Shoes, an event organized to raise awareness of the fight against the use of landmines and cluster bombs worldwide and the realities of the people living in the 80 countries still littered with the former.

While raising awareness about this issue, Handicap International successfully created a family-friendly, educational atmosphere to inspire people to mobilize. With a beautiful fall day as the backdrop, people mingled in the square learning about the landmines, demining methods, and survivor rehabilitation.

There were plenty of Handicap International volunteers on hand, ready to explain the pyramid and the cause they were advocating for. Papa Seck, a volunteer for over a year and an event attendee, explained the pyramid’s purpose.

“It’s very symbolic,” Seck said. “Throwing shoes shows we care for those who have been injured by mines, it shows our concern.”

The event was also used to collect signatures for a petition against landmines. Handicap International employee Muriel Mac-Seing said that the government should be more active on the issue.

“We need to reassert Canada’s role as a leader,” Mac-Seing said. “Not only in funding but in advocacy, solidarity and support for survivors.”

Every half-hour, there were demining demonstrations showing the labor-intensive process behind the detection and safe detonation of mines. People could pose for Facebook photos wearing demining outfits or try walking around in a prosthetic. Spiderman and Batman entertained children, most of whom had their faces painted by a volunteer in cowgirl getup.

Jérôme Bobin, communications and mobilization manager for Handicap International and one of the event’s main organizers, couldn’t help but smile as he talked about how the day was going.

“It’s great,” said Bobin. “We’re very happy and are in motion to meet our objective.”

The term “fashion victim” typically conjures up images of a walking billboard; a person adorned in name brands, wearing the latest trends and manicured from head-to-toe. At first glance, that’s exactly what is portrayed in Handicap International’s new ads, seen in metro stations throughout Montreal. However, it’s in that second glance, a brief moment after, that the ad’s purpose becomes clear.

The ad uses codes of beauty; a supermodel, an evening gown and a Miss Universe sash, and turns them upside down. The ad is designed to catch the viewers’ attention, as their eyes move down the image and they experience a brief moment of shock, realizing the woman is an amputee. The powerful image gets people to stop and think, moving beyond what is normally associated with the phrase, “fashion victim.” The ad plays with the words, highlighting that landmines and cluster bombs continue to be fashionable in some countries.

“We wanted to take what people are comfortable with and challenge that,” said Jérome Bobin, communications and mobilization manager for Handicap International.

Handicap International is a non-governmental organization that fights against the use of landmines and cluster bombs. It also provides support, assistance and advocacy for people in developing countries with various forms of disabilities.

The international organization got its start in 1982 when two French doctors were working in refugee camps in Thailand. At that time, many Cambodians had fled to Thailand to escape the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge had planted landmines throughout Cambodia, including along the Thai border, leaving many refugees as amputees. The doctors saw a need for a resource for this population and people living with disabilities in developing countries. In the 30 years since its beginning, Handicap International has grown and is now active in 60 countries with more than 300 projects.

Currently, the organization is working in the field in Syria and in refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon. With over two million people living in refugee camps, often without proper roads and infrastructure, Handicap International is providing direct help for the most vulnerable populations in those regions.

The fashion victim ads aim to raise the visibility of Handicap International and create awareness about its current projects. The provocative ads were designed and launched in Luxembourg, and the organization felt they had a high degree of success. According to Bobin, the campaign has received similar attention in Montreal, garnering messages of support and significant reaction from the public and the media.

The ad is also being used to promote Handicap International’s upcoming event, the Pyramid of Shoes. On Sept. 28 at the Mont-Royal metro station, participants are asked to throw their old shoes onto the pyramid in a symbolic gesture to protest the continued use of landmines and cluster bombs.

The event will have interactive activities, concerts and appearances by superhero favourites, Batman and Spiderman. The organization is expecting a great crowd and organizers are hoping to beat last year’s one-ton pyramid of shoes. Shoes from the pyramid are donated to an organization that reuses and recycles used goods.

“If I see lots of people participating and learning about the importance of the issue I will be happy,” said Bobin. “We want to mobilize people in a positive way.”

The Pyramid of Shoes is taking place on Sept. 28, 2013 at the Mont-Royal metro station, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m..  For more information visit:handicap-international.ca.