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Iranian students embrace tradition with Persian New Year egg painting event

Tray demonstrates colourful eggs at the Iranian Students Association egg painting event. Photo by Rojiar Ghezelbash / The Concordian

Several Iranian students gathered at Sir George Williams campus to participate.

On March 15, Iranian students at Concordia University came together to celebrate a cherished tradition from their homeland: painting and decorating eggs to celebrate the Persian New Year, also known as Nowruz. Hosted by the Iranian Student Association of Concordia University, the event offered boiled eggs, colourful markers and snacks. 

“Cultural events [like ours] offer more than just a celebration of traditions; they provide a gateway to understanding, unity and belonging,” said Ariana Karimi, the President of the Iranian Student Association. 

Coloured eggs symbolize fertility and rebirth. They are placed on the Haft sin table, a centrepiece of the Persian New Year celebration, to symbolize new beginnings for the upcoming year. Haft sin features seven items that start with the letter ‘S’ in the Persian alphabet, each symbolizing different hopes for the new year—the eggs are an exception. For example, Seeb (apple) symbolizes beauty, Sir (garlic) symbolizes medicine and good health, and Serkeh (vinegar) symbolizes age and patience. 

The word Nowruz in Farsi means “new day” and is rooted in the ancient Iranian religion, Zoroastrianism. Nowruz celebration dates back over 3,000 years to many ethnic groups in Afghanistan, Azarbaijan, Turkey and their diaspora worldwide.

Iranian Students of Concordia University paint eggs in preparation for Nowruz. Photo by Rojiar Ghezelbash / The Concordian
An Iranian student paints her egg with a marker during the egg painting event at Concordia. Photo by Rojiar Ghezelbash / The Concordian
Seven painted eggs in an egg tray for demonstration at Concordia’s Iranian students event in anticipation of Nowruz. Photo by Rojiar Ghezelbash / The Concordian
Iranian students of Concordia arrange their painted eggs in egg trays to ensure they dry perfectly. Photo by Rojiar Ghezelbash / The Concordian
This painted egg embellished with traditional Persian patterns for Nowruz/Iranian New Year symbolizes luck and prosperity. Photo by Rojiar Ghezelbash / The Concordian

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Montreal’s REM: Revolutionizing urban transit in Quebec

Montrealers riding the REM from where they live to go to work and school. Photo by Isabella Belafi / The Concordian

The Réseau Express Métropolitain will connect urban and downtown areas across the city.

Transportation is at the forefront of most people’s worries nowadays, whether you take the metro, car or bus. Planning to get to a destination is always stressful. The Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) network is expected to be completely operational by 2027, revolutionizing Montreal’s transportation system by connecting the suburbs to the city’s bus and metro network. People traveling from suburban areas will find it much easier to access downtown areas. 

According to Statistics Canada, just over 80 per cent of Canadians live in the suburbs and must venture to the city every day for school or work. According to REM info, it’s expected to accommodate 42,120 riders during rush hours. Some commuters have already felt the difference in their commute time.

Giuliana Iacano, 20, resident of Sainte-Dorothée, Laval, studies at John Abbott College in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue. She is looking forward to the REM’s arrival in her neighbourhood. 

Iacano’s current commute takes nearly an hour, as there are no convenient transit routes from Laval to the West Island. “I am eager to ride the train to school next year because I currently spend $100 a week on gas. As a full-time student, the cost of gas takes a significant portion of my earnings,” Iacano said.  

Montreal is known for having a well-connected transport system, though many claim it isn’t perfect. In addition to the REM, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) bus and metro system connects most of Montreal and is cost efficient. A monthly Opus card fare is $58 for students and $97 for the regular fare for commuters who remain within Montreal.

The bus routes usually pass every 10 to 20 minutes during peak hours and 15 to 30 minutes regularly. The metro usually arrives every two to five minutes during peak hours and five to 10 off peak. It is overall an efficient system, but may have some drawbacks, oftentimes experiencing delays that are unreliable and irritating for people on a tight schedule. 

The REM is a self-automated electric rapid transit system that will allow Montreal to be even more interconnected and accessible, as it will connect three existing metro lines: blue, green and orange. The system will also bring Montrealers to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau airport, the South Shore and the West Island.

The REM will be operational for 20 hours each day. Trains will arrive every two and a half to five minutes during rush hour, and every five to seven minutes during non-peak times. 

The main line that is currently open goes to Brossard, Verdun, Le Sud-Ouest and Ville Marie. In 2024, the main line will extend to Côte-des-Neiges, Mount Royal and Saint Laurent. 

Two other branches will open in 2024: Deux Montagnes and Anse-à-l’Orme. The Deux Montagnes branch will have stations in Pierrefonds, Laval and Deux Montagnes. The Anse-à-l’Orme branch will have stations in Pointe-Claire, Kirkland and Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue.

Ashley Sakaitis, 22, a resident of Brossard, has started taking the REM since its opening on July 28. She gets on at the Brossard station and off at Gare Centrale before hopping on the metro. Sakaitis’ commute takes around 30 minutes.

“I enjoy it so far because it’s smooth, quiet, and clean,” Sakaitis said. “I frequently stand up because I can’t tell how fast we’re moving. I’ve also used the REM at night to attend the Bell Center hockey games. It’s an extremely convenient 10-minute commute.” 

Jaimie Litwin, 21, resident of Pointe-Claire, takes the metro to Concordia every day. Since the West Island does not have any metro stations, Litwin gets dropped off at Fairview, rides the bus to Côte-Vertu, and then catches the metro from there. She said the commute takes over an hour and often experiences delays. 

“If there’s a delay in the bus or metro, I’m usually late for class,” Litwin said. “I’m looking forward to the REM because it will have a station nearby and a simpler transit route.”

When the REM opens, Litwin will get dropped off at Fairview. She will ride the REM from Fairview to Gare Centrale. From there she will take the connected metro Bonaventure for a short ride to Guy-Concordia. The commute will take approximately 30 minutes.

The REM network system is expected to save many headaches as the car drives from suburban to downtown areas during the morning and afternoon rush often takes over an hour.

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Beyond strikes: next steps for anti-tuition hike mobilization

Hundreds of students marched against the tuition hikes on March 13 during Concordia's strike week from March 11-15. Photo by Joel Louiseize / The Concordian

In lieu of picketing, Concordia students organize demonstrations and events to mobilize students.

From March 11 through 15, Concordia saw 30,000 students across departments on strike. No strikes have continued past that week and no further strikes are being organized by Member Associations (MAs) at Concordia. However, mobilization in support of paid internships, anti-austerity actions and the ongoing strike of the teaching assistants at the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill (AGSEM) is still going strong.

Though the strikes are over, support for accessible and affordable education remains important to many students. Despite the lack of further strike action, those who have helped with the mobilization against tuition hikes are maintaining their support for common financial issues facing students.

The Coalition de Résistance pour l’Unité Étudiante Syndicale [Resistance Coalition for the United Student Union] (CRUES) is one key group organizing mobilization in support of students. CRUES aims to unite students across educational institutions to tackle issues faced by students.

At 12:00 p.m. on Friday, March 29, the student body at CÉGEP de Rimouski organized a demonstration against unpaid internships at the Émilie Gamlin Park. CRUES and the Social Sciences Student Association at Laval University have also expressed support for their own students’ access to paid internships. 

The momentum behind such rebuttals against internship conditions has been carried over from past student strikes in Montreal, like the 2019 and 2022 strikes at UQAM demanding internship remunerations. 

Jasper Cobb, an upper-year geography student at Concordia who helped organize picketing during the recent strike week, spoke to the importance of solidarity.

“It all boils down to austerity measures and capitalism, whether that’s making students pay insane amounts of money for tuition or doing unpaid labour,” they said. 

This sentiment was echoed by Mowat Tokonitz, a first-year urban planning student, who pointed out that increased tuition rates are “going to affect everyone’s university experience.”

While the complete extent of service cuts at Concordia is unclear, the university is already anticipating cuts on certain services such as Adobe. Last November, Concordia spokesperson Vannina Maestracci said in an interview that the university “was looking into what the total effects of the tuition increase will be on smaller programs like creative arts,” since the majority of its students come from outside the province.

Despite the dedication of those involved in mobilization, there are no further strikes planned at Concordia. “When the strike ended, we had a long talk and came to the conclusion that we don’t really have the capacity to extend the strike or have another strike this semester,” said Cobb. 

In lieu of picket lines, students have organized a demonstration on April 10 with a student mixer afterward, as well as a “DJs Against Austerity” event on May 2 at Reggies bar.

Further mobilization efforts will be planned over the summer, with further emphasis on anti-strike action being ingrained into next fall’s frosh events.

There are several opportunities for those willing to get involved in collective mobilization. Cobb and Tokonitz suggested that students reach out directly to their Instagram account (@tuitionstrikes) for general information.

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A space for cultural nomads

Lunar New Year event hosted by the CCAS on Feb.16. Courtesy photo by the CCAS / The Concordian

The Concordia Canadian Asian Society is a home in-between cultures.

Concordia University counts a little over 35,000 undergraduate students, a number that can make even the most sociable feel lost. The Concordia Canadian Asian Society (CCAS) immerses students in a multicultural hub through various Asian traditions that bring comfort and remind many students of home.

The club comprises over 30 executives and has over 3000 members on their Facebook group. They host around five events a semester, but hold daily office hours, and meet up regularly. The club enlivens students’ semesters with different events, like the Lunar New Year, bake sales, Halloween gatherings, and opens their event to anyone interested.  “We had a lot of people who come out to support who are not necessarily Asian and are just interested in learning,” said Anthony Lum, the club’s senior advisor.

The club values any form of cultural exchange and encourages non-Asian people to appreciate and learn about aspects of Asian culture. However, on recent occasions, members felt an urgent need to reinforce the safe environment they promised their members.   

While this engagement from open-minded students is an excellent support system for the CCAS, it has also been a source of concern for the members. Lum refers to instances when individuals attending club events made people uncomfortable. He recalled a Halloween event hosted by the club, where certain attendees behaved inappropriately. “It turns more into appropriation versus appreciation,” Lum said. 

Discomfort arose when unwanted romantic advances were persistently made toward club members. “People were trying to talk to and get girls’ numbers, to the point that it made many of our members express discomfort. They are not trying to talk to everyone; they are specifically aiming for Asians,” Lum said.

Lum explained how they’ve encountered instances involving “creepier, older, non-Asian individuals who aren’t necessarily students, trying to attend our events.”

These negative interactions have pushed the CCAS to take safety precautions in organizing events that are open to the public by increasing security, designating safe rooms and monitoring their events attentively. 

Worried, the society is adamant about protecting their space, as it provides a crucial space for those feeling lost between cultures to express themselves and find community. The club remains committed to safeguarding a place many call home.

The yearning for a place to call home is more complex than the nostalgia of a location, as most CCAS members were raised in the province and have never left their place of birth. “Many of us feel the sentiment that if you’re born here and you are the visible minority, we feel like we don’t fully belong here,” Lum said.

Lum himself feels like he stands out. “Around the West Island, I was the only Asian in the area. And then I go to Asia and visit where my family is from. I still don’t belong because I’m Canadian. I don’t speak the language; I’m not from there,” Lum said. 

Lum encounters challenges in fully understanding both cultures and recognizing the existence of a middle ground where individuals like him can develop a sense of belonging. This feeling has influenced his involvement with CCAS, as the club strives to reconcile the feeling of cultural disconnect.

“A significant number of our members are from international locations outside of Canada or Quebec,” said William Tan, CCAS co-president. Many have expressed how the club creates a space where they can forge connections with anyone who shares their interests, regardless of nationality.

This feeling is shared by member Yanh Lee, the CCAS’s photographer and videographer. 

“I grew up here in Montreal. I never really learned Vietnamese; I had to self-learn it. People that are native to my own origins tend to make fun of how I speak in my own dialect,” Lee said. 

Lee explained that the CCAS goes beyond language barriers and allows him to feel comfortable with the shared experiences of the group. The connection he shares with fellow members goes beyond shared cultural backgrounds; he feels seen as an individual, allowing for deeper conversations and relationships. 

“CCAS embraces me and understands who I am as a person,” he said. He has found that the connection the society offers has given him a place to be truly creative.

Often understood as a homogeneous entity, the diversity of Asian traditions, languages, and customs creates many opportunities for cultural exchange among the society’s members. CCAS embodies the common value of sharing collective experiences brought by each unique culture within the Asian diaspora. 

The CCAS embodies an exploration of the ways differences in Asian cultures contribute to feelings of comfort among members. “The way you make dumplings across Asian cultures is slightly different, but also slightly the same,” Lum noted during a recent dumpling-making event. The event was a series of exchanges that compared techniques and preferences when making dumplings, revealing the differences in each culture. 

“It’s really cool to see the differences through the things that we have in common,” he said, capturing the essence of CCAS’s fundamental goal to facilitate exchanges within the diversity of Asian cultures in a safe and united environment.

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Anastasia Boldireff’s case goes to the Human Rights Tribunal

Graphic by Carleen Loney / The Concordian

The Concordia PhD student finally receives justice on gender discrimination complaint filed against the two officers in her case.

Since 2019, Concordia PhD student Anastasia Boldireff has been demanding justice for the discrimination she had suffered at the hands of two police officers who discriminated her during her criminal harassment case. Now, she’s finally receiving it.

On March 1 of this year, Boldireff’s complaint against the two officers was upheld by the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission and taken to the Human Rights Tribunal. 

In October 2019, Boldireff was stalked by a non-Concordia student. Her stalker followed her on Concordia campus and eventually assaulted her in broad daylight. 

She went to the police station where she was told to come back later. Boldireff returned with a Concordia security guard after she had made a statement with Concordia security. The Concordia security guard was asked to leave. The officer asked her to answer questions that he wrote on a clipboard and slid to her underneath the plexiglass. 

Upon answering each question, she returned the clipboard, and the officer wrote down another question. Each time she tried to talk with the officer and explain that she was scared, the officer asked her to write it down. It was only when she told the officer “Don’t you want his phone number?” that the officer wrote down a question requesting the phone number of the accused. Boldireff asked “Is he in the system?” and she said that the officer nodded and looked surprised and left.  

The officer returned with his supervisor. The officer’s supervisor then entered the room and asked Boldireff more questions about the accused. 

“I had just written it down, but I was asked to repeat myself. I described [the stalker] to the best of my ability, and the officer had his arms crossed. He was leaning back and he said, ‘Well, he sounds like a good-looking man, a soccer player. Why don’t you go on a date with him?’ and then he laughed,” Boldireff said.

She asked for an escort home since she didn’t feel safe, to which one of the officers asked: ‘Well, is he [the stalker] there now?” She told him that she was scared for her life and he rejected her access to a safe ride home. Realizing the officers wouldn’t provide the support she needed, Boldireff asked if there was any other advice they could give her before leaving. Boldireff said that the supervisor said, ‘you should consider what you’re wearing’. 

“It was a terrible interaction and things escalated from there [with the suspect] and I wasn’t provided the immediate support or sense of dignity,” she said. 

After that interaction, Boldireff filed a complaint with the Police Ethics Commissioner. It wasn’t until the summer of 2020 that she got in touch with the Concordia Student Union Legal Information Clinic (LIC). They immediately put her in touch with the Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR) to receive the help she desperately needed. CRARR filed a complaint on her behalf against the two officers for gender discrimination, stating that they were “violating her right to equality, dignity, and security of the person,” as was detailed in the press release. 

“I don’t think there’s any excuse for a police officer to not treat a victim of crime, of any crime, without the basic need for dignity,” Boldireff said.

Now, the Human Rights Commission upheld her complaint against the two officers. In CRARR’s press release sent to The Concordian, the commission is asking for “$8,000 in moral damages from the City of Montreal and the two officers, and $2,500 in punitive damages from the two officers.”

The commission is also asking for training on the reality lived by people who file complaints for crimes involving sexual violence to be implemented for police officers. This is to ensure that there’s no gender-based stereotypes in the handling of these cases. 

After years of searching for help, Boldireff felt a sense of justice being served following this decision.

“It makes me feel supported. It makes me feel that if the Human Rights Commission is supporting this case, then fundamentally they’re supporting the belief that women should not experience [derogatory] gender-based comments at a police station,” Boldireff said. 

She’s continuing to advocate for safe spaces for victims who go to report their sexual violence cases, and for them to have guidance from social services such as CRARR.

She continues to voice how imperative it is that “victims should be believed when they’re coming forward, believed and supported, especially by the police who were meant to serve and protect [them],” Boldireff said.

As grateful as Boldireff is for the Human Rights Commission’s decision being in her favour, she is still waiting on the Administrative Police Ethics Tribunal’s decision from the hearings of her case last fall.

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A paradigm shift in language education

Dawson College is anticipating an 80 per cent loss in their language faculty because of Bill 96. Photo by Kaitlynn Rodney / The Concordian

Sweeping changes under Quebec’s Bill 96 lead to significant job losses among language teachers at English CEGEPs.

With the introduction of Quebec’s Bill 96, educators  in Montreal English-language CEGEPs are facing a seismic shift that stands to redefine the educational landscape for both students and faculty. Faculty across language departments fear job losses as the new French language law takes its toll, signifying a dramatic change in how languages are taught and learned in the province.

At the heart of this upheaval is the amendments to the Charter of the French Language, as per Bill 96, aimed at reinforcing the use of French across Quebec. With its implementation, English-language CEGEPs, once a beacon for diverse language learning including Hebrew, Greek, German, Mandarin, Spanish and Italian, are now mandated to drastically cut back on their language offerings to make room for more French language courses. This legislation not only impacts the fabric of language education but also the very careers of those dedicated to teaching these languages.

Bill 96, passed in May 2022, represents a significant overhaul of the Quebec Charter of the French Language. It mandates, among other things, that students at English CEGEPs must take a minimum of five courses in French, leaving little space for other language courses. This legislation extends the principles of Bill 101, which has regulated language use in Quebec since 1977, by tightening the requirements for English education and incorporating changes that directly affect English-language CEGEPs and their students.

The immediate effects of Bill 96 have been profound. Christina Chough, professor at Dawson’s Spanish faculty, and her colleagues at Dawson College have been thrust into a state of uncertainty and fear, with the expected loss of 80 per cent of language faculty highlighting the severe impact on educators. The mandate for students to take additional French courses means a drastic reduction in enrollment for other language courses, leading to significant job losses among faculty. This shift not only affects the educators, but also diminishes the diversity of language instruction available to students, limiting their exposure to global languages and cultures.

John Abbott College’s Julie Gagnon-Riopel, a Spanish professor, echoes these concerns, highlighting the irony of having to cut language offerings at a time when the world is more interconnected than ever. The expectation that the language department may shrink by 60 to 70 per cent illustrates the sweeping consequences of the law. 

Looking forward, the ramifications of Bill 96 extend beyond the immediate job losses and curriculum changes. The law poses significant challenges for talent recruitment, making it more difficult for English-language CEGEPs to attract and retain educators in a shrinking field. Additionally, the narrowing focus on French language education may impact students’ preparedness for university and their future careers, particularly in a globalized world where multilingualism is an asset.

As educators like Chough and Gagnon-Riopel grapple with Bill 96’s unfolding implications, the question remains: How will Quebec’s educational landscape adapt to these challenges, and at what cost to its students and teachers? 

The 2024 academic year is poised to see these changes fully realized.t The impact of Bill 96 on English-language CEGEPs in Montreal is a developing story—one that speaks to the tension between linguistic preservation and the rich tapestry of language education that has long characterized Quebec’s educational system.

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Commemoration vigil honouring Alexei Navalny

Attendees at Alexei Navalny's vigil laying out flowers, candles, and photos of the Russian opposition leader in his memory. Photo by Olivia Integlia / The Concordian

Hundreds gather to remember the Russian opposition leader.

On Sunday March 17, hundreds of Montrealers gathered at the Christ Church Cathedral located on St. Catherine West in honour of Alexei Navalny, a lawyer and the leader of the Russian opposition party. 

Navalny, 47, died while incarcerated in a remote Arctic penal colony, northeast of Moscow on Feb. 16. He was best known for publicly criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin. Since 2011, Navalny has actively denounced corruption in Russian politics. 

Organized by the Russian Canadian Democratic Alliance (RCDA), a non-government organization whose mission is to provide a space for Russian Canadians to advocate for democracy back home, the vigil allowed Montrealers to mourn and pray for Navalny’s family. 

Individuals were also encouraged to visit the shrine of flowers and pictures made for Navalny behind the cathedral, which will remain there for a couple of weeks. 

“We are delighted to be able to provide this unifying and neutral space for the community as we gather to remember a man who died in mysterious circumstances,” said Reverend Bertrand Olivier at the vigil. Many in the community saw Navalny as a figure who encouraged Russians to fight for a world where people could freely express themselves, he added. 

Well-known Montreal musicians, including Guillaume Sutre, Yegor Dyachkov, Elizaveta Miller, Maria Sourjko, Maxim Shatalkin and Miriam Sekhon were also present to perform in the background, as individuals went up one by one to light candles in honour of Navalny’s memory.

For many, Navalny was an example of a man who stuck to his convictions regardless of the consequences he repeatedly faced, said deacon ordained minister Leonid Dzhalilov who reflected on Navalny’s life at the vigil.

In 2017, Navalny went almost fully blind in one eye from chemical burns after being thrown green liquid in his face by pro-Kremlin activists. 

Years later, in 2020, Navalny was poisoned with a Soviet-era Novichok nerve agent, a chemical weapon initially developed in Russia. He and his supporters accused Putin of being behind the attack. Leaked recordings of two Russian spy agents admitting to there being a secret operation to kill Navalny, which was included in the award-winning documentary Navalny, further sparked worldwide outrage. 

After he recovered from the attempt on his life, he returned to Russia knowing he would face arrest. He was convicted of numerous charges in the following years. At the time of his death, Navalny was facing a 30-year prison sentence.  

“He was a very brave and honest man and his honesty was one of the reasons he returned to Russia,” Dzhalilov said.  “He encouraged people to vote for him, to follow him—he encouraged them not to be afraid.” 

Reverend Olivier also pointed out the significance of hosting the vigil on the same day when Putin was re-elected as Russia’s president for another six years. Western governments have since denounced the elections for being “rigged” and “undemocratic,” after the Kremlin announced Putin won 87 per cent of the votes. 

Putin’s reign will continue to impact Russian Canadians. Just on Monday, March 18, the RCDA received word that their organization was “considered a threat to Russia’s national security,” as stated in an Instagram post from the association. 

While the RCDA is consulting with lawyers about possible risks and consequences to committee members after this new status, their members continue to advocate against injustices in Russia, condemning the war in Ukraine and Putin’s colonial and imperial mentality, among many things.

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A mindful approach to sound

Feher plays the flute during a sound bath. Photo by Félix Laliberté / The Concordian

Dr. Irene Feher offers a sound bath for students to practice mindfulness by listening to instruments and humming.

“Let yourself relax and receive,” said Dr. Irene Feher, a singing teacher in Concordia’s music department during the sound bath she hosted on Feb. 22. Attendees closed their eyes to become witnesses of their inner worlds as they immersed themselves in gentle sounds from singing bowls, hand pans, ocean drums, flutes and humming.

After a half-hour of mindful listening, the group took part in an active humming practice. Vocal toning is a means of self-administering sound healing practice and allows individuals to use their natural voice to create a healing frequency through their vocal cords’ vibration. 

This technique was brought to Feher’s attention by friend and teacher Dr. Shelley Snow, a psychotherapist and music therapist. It can be used to center the mind and find clarity by setting an intention beforehand—it is different for every person. After the session, people felt relaxed and sleepy. 

“It’s odd but delightful to take a short, mindful break,” an attendee shared during the event, which was made possible by CU Wellness.  

Feher explained that mindful practices like these allow a person to connect to their vital energy, a spiritual force that can be used to heal, develop spiritually, and gain inner peace, clarity, and a more positive perception of the world. This way, a person can achieve a healthier sense of self, reducing stress levels and lowering cortisol. She added that mindful practices helped her when she had difficulty sleeping during the pandemic or when she was stressed the day before a music performance. 

“Silence is your friend,” Feher said.

The practice of vocal toning reminds her of babies humming in the maternal womb and it attests to the power of sound to heal, as described by Snow. “We were comforted as babies by the voice of our mothers,” Feher said.

During the pandemic, she developed her own daily mindful routine based on Snow’s teachings. Feher saw that both faculty members and students enjoyed these practices as she began offering mindfulness sessions.

Feher’s instruments include hand pans, sound bowls, drums and more. Photo by Félix Laliberté / The Concordian.

Mindful Campus Initiatives encourage everybody to participate. They are made possible by the university to help students tackle mental health. The initiative aims to create a healthy sense of community and shared experiences to the students. 

Beyond the confines of the university setting, Feher said these practices have a greater potential. According to her, there is a possibility of creating a large vibration in the room, which is as powerful as touch. Feher said it could also create a field of healing vibration directed toward the whole world or wherever it is needed, for example in Gaza or Ukraine. 

Snow believes this force is like water flowing through the earth and keeping the plants alive, or the life that lets a soul speak. The transfer that can happen is like inhaling and exhaling.    

The focus of this area of study is the impact of consciousness on the world we live in, along with the links between our thoughts and the visible world. As discussed by Snow, the book The Healing Power of Sound explains that music and sound are linked to every level of human existence, be it emotional, physical, spiritual or mental. It is like several branches from a tree as many different approaches coexist in this field of mindfulness, spirituality and alternative medicine. 

Feher will be giving another sound bath open to all at 5:30 p.m. on March 28 in EV 2.776. Sign up on the event page.

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Protests in NDG: CDN in defense of Palestinian Solidarity

The Revolutionary Communist Party protesting outside Justin Trudeau's constituency office against the federal government's decisions about Palestine. Photo by Semira Kosciuk / The Concordian

The Revolutionary Communist Party came together in defense of Palestinian solidarity and the right to protest peacefully.

During the week of March 10, the Revolutionary Communist Party held two demonstrations in support of Palestine in Montreal. The first was on Tuesday, March 12 in front of Premier Justin Trudeau’s constituency office to protest the federal government’s decisions regarding Palestine and the selling of land on the West Bank.

“These capitalist regimes have decided to bet everything on genocide on the Palestinian people,” said Fehr Marouf, a member of the Revolutionary Communist Party.

According to Marouf, this was the first time the party had organized a demonstration directly in their name. The protest was small, with around 50 attendees, but Marouf believes it is the start of something, even if it’s just the party and their supporters for now.

The Trudeau government has been placed under scrutiny for sending military aid to Israel, something that may go against Canadian export law stating that Canada may not supply weapons if they may be used to break international law. In light of this, new export permits to Israel have been frozen indefinitely, according to CTV news.

The Trudeau administration also significantly changed a motion put forth by the New Democratic Party (NDP) to recognize Palestine as a state. What the Liberal party offered was a conditional acceptance based on the goal of the two-state solution, which would allow Israel to keep existing alongside Palestine as opposed to the landback goal that the RCP is calling for.

The second demonstration held on Friday, March 15 was called to protest the Quebec government injunction against pro-Palestinian protests outside Jewish institutions in Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. It took place in Girouard park. Less than 10 people attended, but passers-by would stop and ask questions.

A member of the party giving a speech to protest the war in Gaza and show their unwavering support for the Palestinian people. Photo by Semira Kosciuk / The Concordian

The Revolutionary Communist Party came together in defense of Palestinian solidarity and the right to protest peacefully.

“There’s been a process of many years of land being taken up by settlers in this area. Where it looks like—if you look on a map—it looks like a big chunk of land, but over time, bits and pieces have been eaten up,” said Calvin Brett, a member of the party.

Criticism of the pro-Palestine movement arose. Trudeau has denounced violence from both sides, something that has frustrated certain activists, as they feel this doesn’t acknowledge the issue.

“No one should in this movement—the Palestine movement—be against someone going to pray or engaging in their culture in any way they see fit,” Brett said. “The actual continuation of this genocidal onslaught in Palestine was continuing here in our neighbourhood.”

Friday’s rally was proposed by fellow party member Tony Miller-Smith after the injunction was announced. He believes he should be able to protest in the neighbourhood he lives and works in. Miller-Smith also stressed the importance of collective action in the fight to free Palestine.

“If you want to fight to free Palestine, you should help us build a Revolutionary Communist Party that can help to overthrow the Quebec capitalists and the Canadian capitalists,” he said.

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Hope is on the horizon for Montreal’s struggling students

The site of the proposed housing project. Visual by Mackenzie Sanche and James Fay / The Concordian

A new take on student housing finally puts students first.

Students are struggling to find affordable housing in Montreal, and ever since the tuition hikes and the recent rent increase, they aren’t left with many options.

More affordable housing will soon be available for students who need it. A new non-profit housing project has been announced by l’Unité de travail pour l’implantation de logement étudiant (UTILE), a Quebec company that develops student housing. It will be located in the heart of the Griffintown neighborhood, with close proximity to Concordia and McGill University.

This new project aims to create more affordable housing for students. The name attributed to the building is “Le Cardinal,” and will be approximately 18 stories high, housing thousands of students.

According to UTILE’s website, “the 290-unit project meets the growing demand for student housing by creating a living environment that promotes academic success, exchange, and concentration.”

A study conducted by a non-profit organization showed that in the province, 77 per cent of university students are renters. Oftentimes, three or four students are crammed in little apartments because they just cannot afford to pay the rent alone. Many are also unfortunately taken advantage of by their landlords, and this has become increasingly common in the past year.

Craig Sauvé, one of the city councilors of Montreal’s South-West borough, said that many students struggle with inflation and the housing crisis. They have fewer resources to be able to house themselves adequately in good areas with access to public transportation.

Most of the current construction in Griffintown is private housing, built by developers for profit. Even so, because UTILE is a non-profit group, they have different finances. The councilor says having non-profit housing in Griffintown is an opportunity to have two different types of housing in the area.

“When UTILE came to us, at the very early stages of the project, they said they’d like to do something, but it must be at a high density,” Sauvé said.

The city of Montreal and UTILE have both decided that the entirety of Montreal and the Griffintown area would benefit from affordable student housing. Overall, this would help transform the area into a vibrant, diverse, and more sustainable neighborhood.

With gains like that, Sauvé said the council was very receptive to the idea, wanting to correct the past mistakes in terms of affordability in Griffintown. He believes that welcoming more students to the area will also help bring creativity, livelihood, and energy to the neighborhood. The council thinks it’s a big win for Griffintown and Montreal.

However, many residents are not as receptive to the idea. Despite this project being an opportunity to house students in need. Residents are not particularly happy with the new construction plans. They say the 18-story building will be completely out of balance with the neighborhood, sitting twice as high as the residential and historical buildings around it.

The councilors understand their concerns, but this decision was made for the greater good, according to Sauvé.

“When the project was presented to the city council, all 55 members of the committee voted in favor of the UTILE project, it was unanimously supported by all,” Sauvé said. From that point on, the city decided to move forward with the project.

Other Griffintown residents have also spoken out, saying that they very much welcome the project and that it will benefit the neighborhood.

The project is expected to be completed before the start of the school year in 2027.

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Another win for Legault as Bill 21 is upheld

Graphic by Carleen Loney / The Concordian

The Court of Appeal of Quebec upheld Bill 21 as it “does not offend Canada’s constitutional architecture” according to the Court.

Nestled in the picturesque Maurice region of Quebec, rolling hills and farm fields surround the little town of Hérouxville, Quebec. In 2007, the town of around 1,300 inhabitants sparked the ongoing debate of “laiïctié” or secularism in Quebec. 

On Jan. 25, 2007, the town adopted a code of conduct that would prepare immigrants for life in Hérouxville, Quebec. The code named “Les normes de vie de la municipalité Hérouxville” (standards of living for residents of Hérouxville) was quick to gain attention from around the world for being steeped in islamophobia. Although the code did not overtly single out Muslims, the language used was very pointed. 

After the code was harshly dragged through international news casting Québec in a poor light, the Premier at the time, Jean Charest, launched the Bouchard-Taylor Commission on Reasonable Accommodation in Quebec. Released in 2008, the Bouchard-Taylor commission found that the wearing of religious signs should be prohibited in the performance of duties that ‘embody the State and its necessary neutrality. In the commission it states that police officers, Crown prosecutors and presidents of the National Assembly of Québec are prohibited from wearing religious symbols but that teachers, public servants and other government employees should be allowed to do so.

Now 17 years later, Québec has garnered the same negative light as it did back in 2007.

On Thursday, Feb. 29, the Quebec’s Court of Appeal upheld Bill 21. This decision means that the court supports the secularism law and found that the Act “does not offend Canada’s constitutional architecture or the unwritten principles of the Constitution, nor does it offend any pre‑Confederation statute or principle having constitutional status.” 

Bill 21 prohibits school teachers, principals, or any public workers in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols. 

First announced in 2019 the bill was unusual in its preemptive use of the notwithstanding clause. The clause gives parliaments in Canada the power to override portions of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms when passing legislation. Because Québec used the clause before the bill was even challenged it raised brows to the fact that they knew it was going to be contested by the groups that it limits.

Dr. Saul Carliner, Chair of the Department of Education at Concordia said that this bill is unnecessary and limiting a province already struggling with finding enough teachers. “We also have to live with one another, and one of the beauties of diversity is […] it’s a lot easier to be tolerant of other people when there’s someone you come in contact with everyday.” 

Carliner grew up during the Martin Luther King Riots in the United States. During this time, the schools utilized forced–busing, which meant they would bus kids in from afar to achieve a more diverse population. He attributes his understanding of justice and the situation at the time to his classmates that came from racialized communities. 

“If you’re gonna live in any major or even intermediate sized city in Canada or really even the world, they are very diverse places,” said Carliner. “Imagine you’re a kid who’s from a visible minority and all of your teachers are not. It’s like, where do I fit in here?”

We reached out to the sponsor of Bill 21, Member of the National Assembly Simon Jolin-Barrette to hear his take on the Court’s decisions. Unfortunately, an interview was not possible but he did offer to answer questions via email. 

“In effect, Bill 21 allows all religions to coexist in society with one another peacefully and in an equal manner,” said Jolin-Barrette’s office. 

He continued to say “The bill on state secularism does not aim in any way to alienate religious minorities or to protect people of Christian faith. On the contrary, it is a vector of rights and equality.” 

As for the status of Bill 21, currently there is a high likelihood that it will be passed up to the Supreme Court of Canada where it could potentially be knocked down.

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Concordia’s library and support staff join the ongoing boycott of the SMSV

Student unions read aloud their joint letter demanding a policy reform amid the ongoing boycott of the SMSV. Members held signs showing their solidarity for the victims of sexual assault and sexual violence. Photo by Rojiar Ghezelbash / The Concordian

The ongoing boycott against the SMSV exposes Concordia’s years of mishandling sexual violence cases, underscoring the pressing need for policy reform.

On March 8, International Women’s Day, Concordia University’s Support Staff Union (CUSSU) and Library Support Staff (CULEU) joined the Concordia Student Union (CSU), the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) and Concordia Research and Education Workers (CREW) in their ongoing boycott of the university’s Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Violence Committee (SMSV).

The boycott is an initiative against Concordia’s years of mismanagement and inadequacy in handling sexual assault and violence cases of students, teaching assistants (TAs), research assistants (RAs), and staff. 

The SMSV was created in 2018 as a measure to comply with Bill 151 which was passed in 2017 following university students urging the Quebec government for action in the wake of numerous claims and scandals of sexual misconduct surrounding Quebec universities. 

The boycott was first initiated in 2022 by the Concordia Student Union (CSU), the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) and the Concordia Research and Education Workers Union (CREW), who refused to participate in the committee and withdrew from the SMSV. The unions now demand new policies that are survivor-centric with an emphasis on respecting survivors’ wishes. 

Concordia University’s current policy on handling sexual assault and violence as directed by the Office of Rights and Responsibility (ORR), decides whether to escalate, investigate or legally pursue a case without the survivor’s consent.

Hannah Jackson, the external affairs and mobilization coordinator of the CSU, shared her experience working with survivors of sexual assault and discovering the importance of survivor autonomy and agency. 

“Sexual violence is a kind of trauma that robs people of their sense of agency and makes you feel like your body doesn’t belong to you and you don’t control what happens with it,” Jackson said. 

In 2021, the Quebec Government introduced Bill 64, an act that modernizes legislative provisions regarding the protection of personal information. Furthermore, it amends Bill 151, the act to prevent and fight sexual violence in higher education institutions by specifying that educational institutions are required by law to communicate to the complainant the details of whether a penalty has been imposed (Bill 64, para. 99). 

In the joint statement letter sent to Concordia administration, the unions call for the University to apply Bill 64 retroactively, which would allow previous complainants to access the details and outcome of their sexual violence case. In their joint statement letter, the unions claim Concordia continues to refuse to disclose the outcome of previous cases before the passing of Bill 64 upon the request of complainants. 

“It’s basically saying you’re just a nameless statistic tracking the sexual violence complaints,”  Jackson said, adding that survivors can’t appeal or take further action if they are not aware of how the case was processed. 

Additionally, in the joint statement letter, the unions expressed concern about the university’s “It Takes All of Us” training program for sexual violence being sold to other educational institutions despite persistent critiques from students and survivors regarding its ineffectiveness and re-traumatization. 

Concordia has been accused of withholding information and prohibiting access to information of previous complainants of sexual assault survivors.

“The SMSV committee is convened and controlled by upper administration, without meaningful input from students and staff or any binding powers over the policy itself. Our ‘seats at the table’ served only to legitimize an undemocratic consultation process to meet the minimum standard required by law,” the unions specified in a joint statement letter sent to the administration.

The statement letter adds that the procedure to address sexual violence complaints against instructors and supervisors is often delayed for years. Concordia’s lengthy complaint process risks leaving contracted and student workers without safe employment, often resolving issues after the duration of their contract or academic pursuit.

“The SMSV continues to ignore the problem at the core which is that we don’t have a voice on the SMSV, we haven’t been listened to and we have no binding power over the policy in that committee,” said Becca Wilgosh, the mobilization officer for CREW. 

CREW reported that most complaints from its members concern harassment. Wilgosh explained that Concordia’s staff, particularly those in support roles, are more vulnerable to abuse or harassment from supervisors highlighting the importance of their involvement in shaping the university’s sexual violence policies.

“We want to see them enact some [of our demands] as a show of good faith […] we are not going back to a table where we’re not listened to,” she added. Since the boycott, the unions have been invited by the SMSV to individual closed-door meetings where they’re encouraged to rejoin the committee without enacting the union’s list of demands. 

Wilgosh emphasized the ongoing effort to expand their coalition by engaging with more unions to join the boycott. Their goal is to create a committee that operates independently of the university led by students and unions, ensuring their voices are heard. 

The issue of gender-neutral bathrooms

The union’s joint statement letter sent to the Concordia administration also highlights the university’s discriminatory policies against queer and transgender students and employees. 

Concordia is “committed to increasing the number of inclusive bathrooms,” yet continues to install security cameras in these spaces while gendered bathrooms remain unmonitored. 

Concordia’s Center for Gender Advocacy (CGA) asserts the university’s discriminatory action against the members of the LGBTQ+ community violates privacy and reinforces negative stereotypes against trans people, potentially leading to more violence against them. 

“The installment of security cameras in the gender-inclusive washrooms just demonstrates the huge double standard on Concordia’s part where they’re trying to make spaces safer and more inclusive,” said Adam Jivraj, the community engagement coordinator for the CGA.

“But, choosing to engage in the surveillance of trans and non-binary students,” he added. 

Additionally, the CGA emphasizes that the university’s requirement for employees to disclose their sex assigned at birth compromises transgender workers’ privacy and exposes them to potential harassment. 
Becca Wilgosh emphasized the crucial role of the Concordia Trans Student Collective in drafting the demands for better LGBTQ+ protections section “Take better steps to protect students’ and staff rights” deserving special recognition.

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