Tag: Paris

Categories
Sports Wrestling

Alex Moore: Wrestling to Paris 2024

Graphic by James Fay

Former Stingers wrestler Alex Moore has qualified for his first Olympic Games this summer.

Four years ago, Alex Moore was preparing for the Canadian Olympic Trials leading to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. However, two weeks before the trials, he suffered a complete ACL tear, requiring an operation that ruled him out of the Tokyo 2020 qualifications. It was devastating news for him—he was number one in Canada in the men’s freestyle wrestling 86 kg category and felt confident in his chances of qualifying for the Olympics.

“It’s like your dreams flash before you and then kind of get crushed,” Moore said. “It was hard, and I remember the first day, I kind of felt bad for myself. I was upset. And then right away, I was like, hey, what can I do now? So I started the prehab [prehabilitation process] to strengthen my knee before I got into surgery.”

Then, the COVID-19 pandemic threw him a lifeline. With the games postponed to 2021, he had enough time to recover from his ACL tear. Moore’s previous performances in international competitions made him eligible for a wrestle-off against Clayton Pye, who had won the Canadian Olympic Trials, but failed to qualify for Canada through the Pan American Olympic Qualification Tournament. To be Canada’s representative at the 2021 World Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament, Moore had to win two fights in a row against Pye. 

Despite this opportunity, nothing seemed to work in Moore’s favour. One week before the wrestle-off, he tore his labrum in his right shoulder. It would be an understatement to say it handicapped him when it came time to wrestle against Pye.

“I didn’t know it was torn, but I couldn’t do a push-up,” Moore said. “It was hurting. I had no strength in my shoulder.”

Amateur Wrestling champion Alex Moore. Photo by Kaitlynn Rodney

Nonetheless, he still won the two matches to get to the world qualifiers, where he lost against the Armenian Hovhannes Mkhitaryan, officially ending his hopes of qualifying for the Olympics in Tokyo.

After recovering from his torn labrum, he achieved many good results, including a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and a silver medal at the 2023 Pan American Wrestling Championships. In 2023, he obtained his Bachelor of Commerce in Management from the John Molson School of Business. He capped off his university wrestling career by winning the U SPORTS 90 kg wrestling championship title and the Male Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Year Award, both repeats of 2019. He was also named the Stingers Male Athlete of the Year.

Everything was going well for Moore, as he was preparing for the 2024 Pan American Olympic Qualification Tournament. Then, seven weeks before the qualifiers, he competed in a “small tournament just to tune up.” There, he broke something in his right hand and was put in a cast for four weeks. He thinks it happened when he accidentally punched one of his opponent’s shin. Nonetheless, he tried to remain positive in his recovery; when discussing the situation with his coach, David Zilberman, a former Olympian.

“We were going back and forth talking about how every time something bad happened, it would just make for a better story,” Moore said. “Like, wouldn’t that be cool? You know, after everything, getting the job done.”

Five days before competing, his second time getting back on the mats in six weeks, his hand still hurt, even when practicing against lighter high school wrestlers.

“You’re pulling on people and pushing in wrestling, so I’m pulling on the guy’s neck, and I have no strength in my hand,” he said. “There’s so much pain, and I remember thinking to myself: I’m not ready for it, so that was the only time where I was kind of like broken, almost mentally for a second.”

However, Moore was determined to wrestle no matter what, saying he was “not throwing away everything” because of this injury. Through a combination of determination and painkillers, he still wrestled at the qualifiers and obtained his ticket for Paris, beating Jorge Llano of Argentina and Pedro Ceballos of Venezuela. It was the accomplishment of a lifelong dream for him.

“The feeling was insane, like indescribable, but it was weird,” he said. “I never showboat, I never do anything, I just walk off the mat. But for this one, I was yelling, I was pumped, and emotions just took over… I’ll never forget it. This is crazy.”

What is his objective for Paris?


“Just a medal, preferably gold,” Moore said. “But yeah, it’s like a lifelong dream… You want to make that 5-year-old version of yourself happy… That little kid has that dream, and I’m doing it for that guy.”

Moore, practicing at a young age Courtesy of Alex Moore

Categories
Music

RAVE’IN transcends music

This weekend’s virtual techno event is also a fundraiser for local non-profit, Le Chaînon.

This Saturday’s RAVE’IN event is about more than just music. With an all-women lineup, the event aims to draw awareness to femicide and raise donations for Le Chaînon, a Montreal-based non-profit organization that helps women in difficult situations, such as domestic violence, addiction and poverty.

Event organizer Léopoldine, was an exchange student from Paris at Concordia University during the 2019 winter semester. She had originally planned for the event to be a French culture night to share the musical culture of Île-de-France. She then partnered with OCTOV, a Montreal techno music collective that was established in 2014, in order to bring this event to fruition.

As an exchange student in Montreal, Léopoldine wanted the event to be a way to share her love of the Île-de-France region.

“At first I didn’t really go out of the city that much, but it’s my passion for music that pushed me to outside the city because there were more interesting and innovative and cheaper music venues in the outskirts of Paris,” said Léopoldine.

This event was originally intended to be held at Reggie’s, Concordia’s on-campus student-run bar, before the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down.

“This is a feminist event for charity. Truth is that this wasn’t what I originally had planned for my event,” she added. “At first, it was supposed to be a French night for students, by students for the IDF (Île-de-France) French music, but coronavirus made me rethink my approach to this event, I realized I could still do it with a live stream.”

However, one impact of the pandemic had a profound influence on Léopoldine and changed the goal of the event.

“I was really touched when I heard about the rise of domestic violence with the lockdown. That’s when I thought of making it for charity so I looked up associations that were doing work in this field and that’s when I found Le Chaînon.”

Léopoldine eventually sought out further ways to involve women in her ideal event.

“My project was taking form, I knew it was going to be a live stream, for charity for women. So logically I wanted to get other women involved. To make it empowering and uplifting. That was the vibe I was going for,” said Léopoldine. “BitterCaress was the first DJ I reached out to for this event. She encouraged me in this direction.”

Camille Bernard, better known as BitterCaress, is a Montreal-based DJ who was born in Paris. She sees techno music as a gateway to change.

“By starting to mix, I wanted to be able to express my opinion on various current issues that affect us from near and far. I sincerely believe that through art and specifically music, we can aspire to build a better world, make our audience think about certain important social issues and thus, help raise awareness and change attitudes,” said Bernard.

Bernard’s SoundCloud podcast, Mixing For a Cause, features a variety of episodes addressing topics such as violence against women, homophobia and arguments for pro-choice.

As of April 2020, Bernard rejoined OCTOV as a resident DJ following two years of sporadic collaboration with them.

“The techno world has anti-oppression values at heart, advocates open-mindedness, respect for others and for difference … However, despite the growing number of DJs, the integration of women is not always easy in this predominantly male environment … It’s not easy being a woman in this environment.”

Bernard added that “There is still a delay to catch up to achieve parity. In our community, curiosity must be nurtured every day, it is important to follow the development of emerging female DJs. We are all the actors and leaders of change in our local scene.”

When it comes to encouraging female artists, Bernard is not shy.

“With [the RAVE’IN event], I hope that we can show women who want to get involved within the techno scene that it is possible to become an agent of change and do something on their own scale.”

Bernard also added that this event will serve as an example, “To continue uplifting women’s voices in music, we should help women to express themselves without being afraid of being ‘too loud’ and continue making women more visible.”

When asked about what the future holds for events she plans to organize, Léopoldine said, “We’re in talks for making more live streams in the same line as this one. We have people reaching out saying they like what we’re doing and we have other artists wanting to play. I think it has a lot of potential. OCTOV and I would obviously love to go back to having events in public but we’ll keep to livestreams for now.”

With the event coming up soon, Léopoldine is looking forward to hearing the music by the two DJs, BitterCarres, and FAAST, accompanied by two visual artists, Rozetta and QUINT.“You can be sure that Saturday I’ll be in my living room with my speakers as high as my neighbours will tolerate it. I’ll be enjoying myself.”

The event can be accessed here.

Continue reading “RAVE’IN transcends music”
Categories
Opinions

One year later: How the Paris attacks changed the world

Photo of a vigil held here in Montreal for the victims of the Nov 13 terror attacks. Photo courtesy of Marie-Pierre Savard.

Marking the one-year anniversary of the horrific terror attacks in the French capital

On a dark and blustery November evening, I remember being on the train, making my way home to the sleepy suburbs from our bustling metropolis. The train had just left Lucien L’Allier when my phone illuminated with multiple notifications from the BBC, saying a bomb had gone off outside Stade de France in Paris.

Then my phone flashed again with another update, saying multiple gunmen had open fired at citizens in a bar in the 10th arrondissement of the French capital. Minutes later, another notification came in, saying a restaurant was under siege. My heart began to race, as I knew something sinister was unfolding in the city of lights.

By the time I got home, another suicide bomber had detonated himself at a restaurant, and Le Bataclan—a popular concert hall—was besieged by multiple gunmen who sprayed countless bullets on the unsuspecting crowd. I spent the rest of the evening with my family huddled around the television watching CNN, as the images and reports shocked the entire world to the core.

Nov. 13 marked the one-year anniversary of the Paris attacks, where 130 individuals lost their lives as several Islamic State (ISIS) militants brought an onslaught of violence and chaos. The bloodshed and terror was a symbolic and ruthless attack against the western world, as Paris—in my opinion—is the epitome of occidental culture, and has represented western ideals since the French Revolution in the 18th century.

It’s been twelve months since the attack, and the world has drastically changed beyond recognition. ISIS has launched more terror attacks in multiple countries including Belgium, Germany, Turkey, the U.S and France once again, just to name a few. Anxiety and fear has spread like the plague, and several right-wing political parties have gained a lot of popularity in Europe and America.

Look no further than our southern neighbours who’ve just elected a man who has publicly made xenophobic, Islamophobic and anti-immigration comments towards American citizens.

People are scared to leave their houses, to travel and to enjoy their lives as they did before. A 2015 poll commissioned by the New York Times/CBS News revealed 79 per cent of participants believed a terror attack would be imminent. These aforementioned figures are higher than post-9/11 statistics, according to the International Business Times.

We’re not immune over here in Canada either, as the RCMP has foiled multiple terror plots within the last year. This includes Aaron Driver, a 23-year-old from Strathroy-Caradoc, Ont., who was in the final stages of planning a bomb attack before he was discovered by the authorities, according to the National Post.

ISIS even declared “our wolves will come to you,” in a chilling propaganda photo circulated widely on the Internet, which pictured downtown Toronto burning in the background.

By submitting to fear, we are succumbing to these terrorists who seek to disrupt and embed terror into our lives. Yes, tragedy may strike at any second, but now is the time to remain defiant in order to protect our autonomy and our rights.

This also means we cannot buy into extreme right-wing politics that seek to marginalize, isolate and eradicate minorities and those on the fringes of society. The upcoming year will no doubt be challenging for the western world to say the least, as several European nations are set to hold elections, with each country having a right-wing political party vying for power.

Photo of another vigil held in Montreal. Photo courtesy of Andrej Ivanov.

There’s no doubt ISIS is spreading fear amongst the general population. Citizens want to feel protected and see their liberal governments as incapable of dealing with this threat. Therefore they react by supporting right wing political parties, who pander and extort their fears, whilst also promising immediate action against the threat.

The same parallels can be seen right after WWII, when socialist parties suddenly appeared in several countries around the world. Socialist ideology pandered to their darkest anxieties, and the people were tired of the old system, which brought war and devastation to their front doorstep.

Let Paris be a reminder to all that our freedom is constantly being challenged, from both outside and within. We may be battling ISIS, but we must also gather the courage and strength to tackle another ferocious foe: fear.   

Categories
Student Life

We’ll always have Paris…or Montreal

Photo by Hanna-Joy Farooq.

They say that Montreal is the Paris of North America: here’s why

Ah, Paris!

I’ve always had a longing to visit Paris. Everything from its fashion to its desserts has left me in awe for as long as I can remember. Hopefully, one day I’ll have the chance (and the money) to live that dream. Until then, we’ll always have Montreal.

Paris is a unique city in both its culture and charm, and nothing could compare to the real thing. But our modest metropolis definitely has an appeal of its own—there’s no better city in which to take a Parisian vacation, besides Paris itself.

To start off my French adventure, I headed to Old Montreal, which is undoubtedly a little piece of Paris in Canada. Over the years, several movies have actually been filmed in Old Montreal as a way for filmmakers to recreate European cities on a budget. The cobblestone streets and historic buildings also made it the perfect place for me to pretend I was in Paris. The best thing about it is that admiring the charming shops and walking along the water by the Old Port is completely free.

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Paris? For myself, it’s the stereotypical image of a French café. Clichéd, maybe, but who doesn’t dream of sitting on a terrasse outside a café on St-Germain-des-Prés with a café au lait and a delicious pastry, while quietly admiring the city around them?

Unfortunately, the brisk Canadian weather put a damper on my plan to dine al fresco, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t still enjoy a brunch fit for France. I decided to check out Maison Christian Faure; tucked away on Place Royale in Old Montreal, the pastry school and boutique offers a “chic snacking menu” filled with mouth-watering desserts, traditional French dishes (like quiche Lorraine), and a variety of salads and sandwiches perfect for any brunch date.

Walking into the parlour was like entering a scene from Sofia Coppola’s film Marie Antoinette: an elaborately-painted mural by the entrance, display cases filled with colourful cakes and delicate French pastries, a tower of macarons, and bottles of Veuve Clicquot strewn about. I seriously considered asking if they’d let me move in.

I ordered the quiche Lorraine, made with eggs, cream, ham and cheese, and of course, a café au lait with a hazelnut éclair (my stomach is rumbling just thinking about them). The quiche was moist and delicious, the coffee was made perfectly, and the hazelnut éclair…I was speechless. The cream was so rich and sweet that I definitely think I was left with a cavity. My friend ordered a chocolate dessert that could only be described as creamy chocolatey fudge goodness in a cup. Thankfully we got out of there before devouring everything in sight and developing diabetes.

After wandering around our personal Paris a little while longer, I (somehow) felt my stomach starting to rumble again. I hopped on the metro, the mode of transportation for any Parisian on the go, in search of my next treat: les macarons.

For those of you who have not had the pleasure of tasting a macaron, they’re French meringue confections made with egg whites, icing sugar, granulated sugar, and almond powder. They typically come in an array of flavours and colors, and they’re delicious!

Boutique Point G on Mount Royal Ave. E. has some of the best macarons in Montreal. The shop offers over 22 flavours which left me with one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make in a long time. As much as I wanted to buy them all, I settled on six: caramel fleur de sel, Madagascar vanilla, choco-hazelnut, maple taffy, gingerbread, and coconut.

I know there’s more to Paris than eating croissants and drinking coffee; it’s a city with such a rich culture, including museums, ballets, and so much more. Unfortunately, appreciating the arts often comes with a price tag—of course, so does food, but you can always make an exception for a delicious pastry. Montreal is filled with museums and you can find some kind of performance on any given day, so you can continue your European adventure. But why not appreciate some of the more beautiful things the city has to offer for free?

One of Paris’ most famous free attractions is the iconic Eiffel Tower. People flock to the tower from all over just to admire it from afar, and it’s largely considered one of the most romantic spots in the world. Of course, there’s nothing in Montreal that could come close to its beauty, but I found the next best thing.

Place Ville Marie’s Christmas tree is a sight to see for anyone dreaming of heading to the City of Lights. Standing over 62 feet high, with more than 13,000 LED lights overlooking Ste-Catherine St., it’s a holiday tradition for many Montrealers. I thought it would be a perfect way end to my Paris trip. Even though it’s not the quite the Eiffel Tower, it’s still a beautiful way to finish a long day.

À la prochaine, Paris!

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